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THE TREND 



THE TREND 

A MODERN DRAMA 



BY 



JAMES SMITH ROLLOW 



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Printed by 

GUIDE PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY 

NEW YORK 



fliBHARY of COi^aSii^S 
\ Two Copies Kecoivvj^ii j 

UkK 9 1908 



ti. - --"V^ M-T ^ » liiii.iil 1 |ii 






Copyright, 1907, 
JAMES SMITH ROLLOW 



All rights reserved 



PREFACE 

^^^^i^^^HE author realizes that he has taken an 
m l\ unusual course by inserting narrative 
m J in a drama. He is also mindful that 
^^^^ plays are not read by the general read- 
ing public, due, he thinks, that purely dramatic 
work in type lacks picturesqueness or food for 
the imagination; therefore his reason is obvious 
and manifold; first, to be brief; secondly, to pic- 
ture the action of characters ; and thirdly, to make 
the scenes as vivid as possible. He has also held 
more to the warmth of feeling than to cold mathe- 
matical methods or precision. The work incites 
some speculation in character development. 
Katherine Janeway, a foundling infant, adopted 
by indulgent and wealthy parents, seems to de- 
velop a dreamy nature, and at times is emotional, 
vivacious or serious. The good reader will only 
have to exert his imagination in a slight degree 
to picture the whimsical young woman, after a 
life of indulgence in childhood, and her following 
life in a convent for several years, on meeting a 
handsome and brilliant man who is evidently the 
idol of her fondest dreams, and under the cir- 
cumstances proposes marriage and carry out a 
Leap year privilege, according to tradition. On 

5 



the other hand, Raleigh, a man of the world and 
apparently experienced in all that is attractive to 
his nature, lacks warmth and craves for some 
form of novelty on seeing Katherine, who turns 
out to be the very ideal of his thoughts, becomes 
animated and apparently loses his self-control 
temporarily and answers her in the same strain 
as she (Katherine) had given herself up to on his 
arrival, first shows that the poetical or gentler 
side of his nature had been touched. After a few- 
moments he realizes his position and vows to an- 
other, and retracts. 

Nature is so varied in her works and characters, 
if no such incident is recorded as is pictured, it 
is quite possible in these days of incessant activ- 
ity. While the high order of man Mr. Janeway 
so warmly contends for may be in abeyance and 
not within our grasp or imagination, and if our 
intelligence has not reached that condition where 
we can thoroughly trust each other's honesty in 
the common pursuits of life, it is at least time to 
reflect upon our material and mental growth for 
comparison, and conclude that our only salvation 
is in turning toward the building up of our 
mental vigor and moral work, to keep pace with 
our material achievements and to advance our 
civilization to a higher plane for the purpose of 
freeing ourselves from the bondage of servitude 
for mere gold; and when we consider our mate- 
rial advancement under the stress of opposition 

6 



from ignorance and devastation from disease and 
war, it would now seem a much less severe and 
arduous task to develop the thoroughly physi- 
cally, mentally and morally balanced man, who 
could emancipate us from selfishness and greed, 
which so greatly retards our mental and moral 
progress and keeps from us that higher order or 
nature which would develop us from frail and 
cunning masses into an individual and collective, 
wise, just and powerful representative of a glo- 
rious destiny that awaits our advancing. 



CHARACTERS. 

Jack Raleigh, Multi-Millionaire — President 
Allied Companies. 

Harry Dodge, self-made man. 

Herbert Janeway, formerly a wealthy mer- 
chant and manufacturer. 

Mrs. Janeway, his wife. 

Katherine Janeway, their adopted daughter. 

Uncle Billy Marshall, philosopher, wit and 
philanthropist. 

Curate Rollins, English clergyman. 

Judge Marks, Associate Judge Supreme Court 

Harry Brown, of Brown, Marshall S^ Company. 

Secretary Williams, Secretary Allied Com- 
panies. 

Secretary Short, First Assistant Secretary 
Allied Companies. 

Young Morton, 



Wall Street men. 



Young Whitehouse, 

Young Chase, 

Young Rockwell, 

Mrs. Westerbury, society leader. 

Mrs. Fletcher, her friend. 

Mrs. Barbour, young, handsome, ambitious. 

Nina, French maid. 

Society people, hall guests, hankers and hrokers, 
men of affairs, Sunday school children, 
clerks, stenographers, and others. 

9 



THE SCENES. 

Act I, Scene I — Library in Herbert Janeway's 
Long Island home. 

Scene II — Lawns in front of Herbert Jane- 
way's Long Island home. 

Act II — Reception room, Herbert Janeway's 
Fifth Avenue mansion j New York, 

Act III, Scene I — President's office. Allied 
Companies, lower Broadway, New York. 

Scene II — Office Brown, Marshall S^ Com- 
pany, Wall street. New York, 

Act IV — Large and commodious parlor in Her- 
bert Janetvay's Long Island home. 



11 



THREE YEARS 

ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ELAPSED 

BETWEEN ACTS I. AND II. 

THREE MONTHS 
BETWEEN ACTS II. AND III. 

— AND — 

NINE MONTHS 
BETWEEN ACTS III. AND IV. 



ACT I. 



ACT 1. 

SCENE I. 

(Herbert Janeway^ a manufacturer of wire 
nailSj with many mercantile and manufac- 
turing interests in Pennsylvania in the early 
prominent days of the steel industry. He 
later enters New York's strenuous life and 
speculative atmosphere and becomes finan- 
cially embarrassed. Reduced^ he goes to his 
Long Island surroundings and contents 
himself in the relinquishing of all further in- 
terests in active business to live quietly under 
the gentle, retiring influences of his wife,) 

( Harry Dodge^ naturally a gentleman, has a fire 
in his constitution to arouse those about him 
when stirred, is honorable to a degree, and 
very faithful to all the principles that direct 
his actions. He is manly in appearance, and 
his physique and general bearing commands 
respect from those who know him slightly, 
and love from those who know him well, ) 

(Library in Herbert Janeway^s Long Island 
home, early afternoon,) 

(Enter Herbert Janeway and Harry Dodge.) 

17 



[ ACT I ] The Teend 

Dodge. Yes, sir. I confess I am proud of 
my invention. 

Janeway. Dodge^ your life seems to me like 
a dream. You have risen from a grocer's clerk, 
office boy, apothecary's assistant, and student of 
chemistry to that individual position of the in- 
ventor. And your invention will surely bring you 
millions in money and world-wide fame. It all 
seems to me like fiction. What would your good 
mother and father think were they alive and 
should learn these facts? 

Dodge ( after silence ) . If this was so my hap- 
piness would be supreme. That is the one thing 
that would mar my happiness that could other- 
wise be unbounded. 

Janeway. You know I have little money 
left, but I have friends in the financial world. 
DoDGE^ take my word for it, if it is within the 
range of my power I will furnish the capital re- 
quired to market your invention. 

Dodge {shakes hands with him). Thank you, 
sir, very much. How fortunate I am to have 
met such a true and genuine friend as you are. 

Janeway. I consider our meeting a most 
happy one, and I cherish our friendship as one 
of the best of all I can claim. When will you 
return to New York? 

Dodge. At once. 

Janeway. Stay here with me for a while. I 
want you to meet my daughter, who has just re- 

18 



The Trend [ act i ] 

turned home after her graduating exercises at 
the convent. I want you to meet her. 

Dodge. I must return to the city at once for 
many and good reasons. 

Janeway. Then in that case I will go with 
you. (Rises from chairs leaves the room^ returns 
with Katherine Janeway.) 

Janeway. Mr. Dodge^ allow me to introduce 
you to my daughter, Katherine^ a favorite, of 
course, since she is my only one. (Dodge bowSj 
Katherine extends her hand,) 

Katherine. Mr. Dodge^ I am most delight- 
ed to meet you and to know you as one of father's 
old friends. He has told us all so much of 
you and your achievements. How lovely it must 
be to be an inventor I and work out original plans 
and accomplish something yourself without the 
aid of others. How lovely! 

Dodge. Miss Janeway^ all that I have done 
or accomplished has been done alone, and I have 
learned to live and work quite comfortably alone. 
Alone in the world. 

Katherine. To work alone appeals to me 
as pleasant, but to live alone seems to me hor- 
rible. Is this your experience? 

Dodge. Yes, to a certain extent it is, but my 
work keeps me so busy that I do not have time 
to consider the other at all hardly, but when I do 
I think it rather a hard life, to live alone in this 
great and beautiful world. 

19 



[ ACT I ] The Teend 

Janeway (looking at watch), Mr. Dodge^ 
it is now time for us to leave for the station, to 
go on the afternoon train. 

Katherine (shakes hands with Dodge and 
kisses her father again and again). Good luck 
to you, and may the Goddess of Fortune bless 
you both on your every turn. 

(Mrs. Janeway enters, shakes hands with 
Dodge and kisses Mr. Janeway good-bye as 
they leave,) 

Mrs. Janeway. A very deserving young 
man. 

Katherine. Yes; he seems so. Do you 
think much of his invention, the match that will 
only light when its head is in contact with the 
human breath, and never ignites from friction on 
any surface such as wood, metal, or stone? A 
real innovation I Father says he has found some 
chemical affinity for the human breath by the 
mixing of sulphur and alum and some other se- 
cret components and placed it in the head of his 
match, and father thinks that great things will 
come of it. 

Mrs. Janeway. Well, the good boy deserves 
all he can gain. He is of a Southern family of 
fine record and good blood, but like many South- 
erners, during the Civil War they were so re- 
duced financially that they never gained their 
position again. The young man practically sup- 
ported his mother and father up to the time of 

20 



The Trend [ act i ] 

their death from his own efforts, and gained such 
education as he has through his own endeavors 
and without the aid of anyone. 

Katherine. a most deserving young man, 
but of course, I suppose, narrow, as all men must 
be without an education. Where did father first 
meet him? 

Mrs. Janeway. In a drug store, where he 
was employed when we first arrived in New 
York. The acquaintance was by accident, but 
it seems their regard for each other has grown 
ever since. 

Katherine. May they have good luck, for 
both are most deserving men and sterling as- 
pirants. ( The clock strikes at 2.30 p. m. ) 

Katherine. It is now time for us to prepare 
to leave for the station, to meet the curate and 
the children. They are to arrive at three o'clock. 

Mrs. Janeway. Yes, my dear. Will you be 
ready soon? 

Katherine. Yes, mother; I shall be ready 
within a few moments. INIother, is the good 
curate the same as of old, or has he changed since 
I last met him? 

Mrs. Janeway. My child, he is the same es- 
timable man, a preacher of staunch qualities; and 
a Christian without a fault, I believe, unless it be 
a fault for a Christian to be without a wife, for 
he is not vet a benedict. 

21 



[ ACT I ] The Trend 

Katherine. He was always so good and 
kind. Of whole soul and heart and earnest in 
his office, and with it all so plain and unsophisti- 
cated. 

Mrs. Janeway. Yes ; he is a quiet, calm and 
cultivated gentleman. Simple life, with all the 
happiness that is derived from it, is his motto. 
He never expects too much from his flock, but is 
uncompromising in his belief and faith in Him 
our Father, the Maker of heaven and earth and 
the Director of mortals, who knows so little of 
His great works and motives, and above all 
things the curate claims that men should be loyal 
to their duties as they are taught in the creeds 
that have been handed down to them from gen- 
eration to generation, and that they should trust 
in Him for guidance in all things and pray for 
direction from Him and His infallible wisdom. 

Katherine. He is so good and faithful, and 
I shall be so glad to see him again. And now, 
mother, if agreeable to you, we will prepare our- 
selves and leave for the station at once. 

{Exeunt,) 



22 



SCENE II. 

(Heebert Janeway^s Long Island home, a com- 
modious building of Colonial architecture, 
with wide porches, supported by heavy col- 
umns on three sides of the house and sur- 
rounded by beautiful lawns and a grove of 
fine old trees. To the right is rolling land 
and hedge fences of neighboring estates. 
From the front can be seen the Sound and 
the shores of Connecticut and Rhode Island. 
To the left, and not far away, is the railroad 
station. The front lawn joins a lane con- 
necting many fashionable homes of New 
York society people, known as a colony of 
the ''400.'') 

(NiNA^ Katherine Janeway^s maid, is ar- 
ranging ribbon streamers about a May-pole pre- 
paratory to the arrival of Katherine, Curate 
Rollins^ Mrs. Janeway and the children for a 
dance. Nina sings seriously for a time, then 
says:) How this all reminds me of my home in 
France! (Pause.) Ah, how one can dream of 
something far away, waiting and watching for a 
time as I did when thinking of coming to this 
great and busy country! (Reflects.) But now 

23 



[ ACT I ] The Trend 

I think it would have been better had I remained 
at home and had lived for dear old father and 
mother and the boys. (Sighs,) However, 
everything could be much worse. I might have 
been thrown among more unworthy and unkind 
people. (Cheerily.) Perhaps I should be 
more grateful, for I might have gotten in the 
home of some cold and heartless family like some 
of whom I have heard. (Reflects.) Ah, no; no 
such trouble is mine, for my dear mistress. Miss 
Katherine^ is a sweet child, of warm heart and 
the soul of goodness. She shall always prosper 
and be happy, for it is due her, and our Father 
would never allow anything that would prove 
harmful or cruel to befall such a good descendant 
of His heavenly home. She is incarnate with 
Him and His holy works, representing Him with 
such sweetness, tenderness and loveliness as only 
she seems to possess, and such as can only be re- 
warded with kindness. Yes, she is safe, of that 
I am sure, and may she always continue to be so. 
This is my humble prayer at this moment and 
forever more. 

(Now voices of children are heard as they 
approach in song of the church. Nina 
moves energetically about as she arranges 
everything. She then looks off into the 
distance and sees a little crowd of church 
people advancing. 

24 



The Teend [ act i ] 

(Katherine Janeway enters with the girls. 
All the children have flowers j while Kath- 
erine carries a great variety. She at once 
begins a vivacious activity for the comfort 
and pleasure of all. After dividing some 
of her flowers with the girlSj she places 
upon each boy a buttonhole blossom,, and 
expresses a kind and loving word to each. 
As she fastens the flower upon the last boy 
in the line, Mrs. Janeway^ accompanied 
by Curate Rollins^ enters, Mrs. Jane- 
way seems happy. Curate Rollins^ 
moved by the kindly welcome given the 
children, with warmth and power befit- 
ting an educated and refined man, and in 
the eloquence of a polished preacher, 
says:) 
The little ones will surely have a lovely time, 
and this occasion will be one of indelible pleasure 
in their little hearts and minds. 

(He views the May -pole, speaks of its 
beauty, as well as the other arrangements, 
provided for their entertainment, and ad- 
mires all,) 
Curate Rollins. Everything is beautifully 
arranged, and I feel that the children will repay 
their friend and teacher for all the trouble she has 
taken for their welfare and entertainment. 

Katherine. Ah, Dr. Rollins^ please do not 
say too much in this respect. I am afraid the 

25 



[ ACT I ] The Trend 

children might really feel indebted to me, and 
this is not the case. I would not for the world 
have them think that they are indebted to me for 
anything, but on the contrary, I am indebted to 
the dear little ones for coming — for it fills me 
with joy and love to see their fair faces and have 
them at my home as my guests. 

{The children are engaged among them- 
selves, and apparently do not hear what 
is said, Mrs. Janeway^ assisted by 
NiNA^ is visiting each one separately to as- 
certain if anything is desired or can be 
done for them. 
(Curate Rollins walks over to where 
Katherine stands. He looks fondly 
upon her fine face and brow, with all their 
sweet outlines abounding in youth, while 
a depth of kindness and wisdom glows 
from her wondrous eyes, and says:) 
You are too kind. You, I am sure, are one of 
God's trusted creatures upon this earth, doing 
always some noble and worthy act for all those 
who come in your direction and never, never al- 
lowing a word of thanks to be offered in return 
for all you do for the benefit of others. May 
Heavenly wisdom lead you on and on in this 
world, and, I trust, compensate you in some holy 
manner in time to come. 

Katherine. Oh, Dr. Rollins, you are very 
kind, but really, I do nothing for which anyone 

26 



The Trend [ act i ] 

is indebted to me. It is my most cherished hope 
that some day I may be able to do some good for 
someone or for others in this world. This is my 
daily prayer, my most cherished desire and my 
one wish above all others, and my abiding faith 
is that some time I may be able to lend a helping 
hand to those who may be in need. 

(A moment of silence j then Katherine 
seems to awaken to her surroundings^ and 
hurriedly says:) 
The children, the children ! 

{Now music is heard j she hurries to her 
chargeSj arranges them all fondly about 
the May-pole, The next instant a feast 
of childish song and dance ensues. Kath- 
erine becomes imbued with the loveliness 
of the scene, the mirth of the children and 
the music J and cannot keep her feet still. 
She enters into the dance, while Mrs. 
Janeway laughs at her sprightliness and 
says:) 
She is nothing more than a child herself. 

(Curate Rollins goes up on the porch with 
Mrs. Janeway. They make some sug- 
gestions as the time goes on, which are 
carried out by Katherine in her enter- 
tainment. 

{Games and dancing continue with alertness 
and persistency, while Mrs. Janeway and 

27 



[ ACT I ] The Trend 

Curate Rollins enjoy the scene, com- 
fortably seated in large chairs, and Nina 
stands close to hand in case her services 
are needed, 

( The weather is beautiful and calm. Kath- 
ERiNE looks lovely, her cheeks are pink, 
and her vivaciousness overshadows the 
usual calmness of her character, which at 
times seems grave, 

(The scene is one to be remembered; fancy 
costumes are worn by the little men and 
women, and they apparently enjoy the 
spirit of the occasion in the crisp air that 
is gently blown from the Sound over their 
heads as they dance and sing to the 
music and execute movements that are so 
highly entertaining to all lovers of a 
May -pole dance. All is life and appar- 
ent happiness, and Curate Rollins seems 
delightfully entertained. 

{After much time is spent in the very ex- 
hilarating exercises upon the lawn, Mrs. 
Janeway and Curate Rollins^ with 
NiNA''s aid, led the children away to some 
other part of the grounds suitable for ob- 
serving the setting sun and for other 
changes of scene, while Katherine re- 
mains behind to gather up handkerchiefs, 
flowers and other trinkets dropped during 
the dance. 

28 



The Teend [ act i ] 

(It is now past five o'clock and the sun has 
begun to descend behind the hills. Cu- 
rate Rollins^ who is ever attentive and 
even solicitous of Katherine^s welfare 
whenever an opportunity presents itself, 
sends Nina bach to request her to 
come and join the party, which is now 
some distance from the house, Kath- 
erine promises to do so, but soon, how- 
ever, seems so fatigued either from the 
exercise of the afternoon or from mental 
depression, that she leans quietly upon a 
rustic seat for momentary support. While 
in this position but a few moments, she 
gives way to feelings that had evidently 
been stored within her bosom for months, 
or even years. She looks out into the 
road and then, with emotion, let loose the 
bounds of her restraint, saying:) 

Oh, I am so lonely and weary 
That it make the world seem very dreary ; 
But surely the one intended will yet come, 
And then life's work will be begun. 

So I will content myself at least for a time, 
And try to feast upon these dreams of mine ; 
And the one who could blight this strife. 
And swell my life, my heart, and love to some 
great height. 

29 



[ ACT I ] The Trend 

Oh, what happiness I will have some day, 

To love, to cherish and to obey; 

What else in life could be so sweet 

As living at the command of the one you'll meet? 

(Pause.) 

Hark! hark I what is this I hear? 

A firm, even and manly footstep not far from 

here. 
Gracious me! It makes me quiver; can it 

be he 
Of whom I have dreamt and wept and prayed 

to see? 

My, my, I feel so agitated — what can it be? 
Is it a premonition of evil or of good? 

(Jack Raleigh walks across lawn at a dis- 
tance, ) 

Oh, what a human form to behold ! 
Stately, handsome and bold. 
Yet gentle, I am sure — 
The dream of my life once more. 

Oh, fate! What shall I do? Ah— I see; 
'Tis provided for by circumstances ; 
Some good saint has favored me, for this is 
Leap Year. 

30 



The Teend [ act i ] 

Now for action. I must not wait for slow 
processes of yore. Our good Director has given 
me this one more chance, and I have no time to 
procrastinate. I shall relate to him and see what 
he says. I shall propose, as it is my privilege at 
this time, and if Providence, with the aid of Leap 
year, shall set my dreams at rest and place in 
each happiness instead. All! what bliss. What 
bliss! {Takes up trinkets and hurries into the 
house.) %i'Mi 

(Raleigh enters. He is attired in the 
Meadow Brook Hunt Club riding clothes, 
white breecheSj high boots and hat, all of 
which are well fitted to his form, and every 
line of his closely knitted figure is well 
brought out by the good effects of the 
tailor. He nurses his left wrist in his 
right hand; seems agitated. Stands close 
to the center of the scene and says in seri- 
ous tones:) 
Ah, that was a narrow escape, for which I 
should thank God {and then hurriedly, as if cor- 
recting himself:) 

Or that something which is instrumental in 
shaping our lives and fortunes in this world, for 
saving my life. (Katherine disconcertedly 
emerges from the house.) 

Raleigh. I beg your pardon. I trust you 
will forgive the intrusion. Will you give me a 
glass of water? 

31 



[ ACT I ] The Teend 

Katherine. Certainly, certainly. I will 
bring some water at once. 

Raleigh. You are very kind. ( Katheeink 
goes into the house, ) 

Raleigh {alone). What a lovely girl! and 
apparently so agitated. What can it mean? I 
shall find out if possible. I may be able to ren- 
der her service. (Katherine returns with a 
jug of water and glasses, Raleigh drinks and 
seems refreshed, Katherine seems awkward 
and ill at ease,) 

Raleigh. I have just passed through a 
rather exciting experience. While at high speed 
my good hunter stepped into a hole that was cov- 
ered over with brushwood, and it brought us both 
heavily to the ground. 

Katherine. How terrible! How terrible! 
Were you much injured? 

Raleigh. Thank j^ou, no. Only a little 
shaken, and this arm seems swollen, and I suffer 
some pain there about the wrist. I suppose I 
landed on my right hand and broke the force of 
the impact. 

Katherine. What a narrow escape! 

Raleigh. I shall never forget my sensation. 
Our speed was so great that when I left the sad- 
dle I flew through the air like a bird for at least 
twenty feet before landing. And when I turned 
to look after my horse I saw that he had turned 
a complete somersault and his hind legs were in 

32 



The Trend [ act i ] 

close proximity with my body. I gained my feet 
at once, caught the animal as he rose, and now 
we are here, imposing upon your kind hospitality. 

Katherine. How fortunate you are in your 
misfortunes. 

Raleigh. How? 

Katherine. Such accidents could turn into 
great disasters. 

Raleigh. Ah, yes — yes. That is true, and I 
am grateful for your kind sympathy. But as 
matters stand now I think the worst of all is that 
we have lost the trail of the hounds and my 
fellow-riders by the delay. 

Katherine. Cannot something be done for 
your injured wrist? 

Raleigh. It is rather painful. But I shall 
wait until I return to the club house before bath- 
ing it. 

Katherine. You should not wait so long. 
I will get a bowl and some more water at once. 
{Starts for the house,) 

Raleigh. Oh, thank you, I could not think 
of troubling you to such an extent. (Raleigh 
alone, ) 

Raleigh. I have never seen so beautiful and 
charming a creature before, and one who comes 
so near my ideal of pure womanhood. ( Kather- 
ine returns with a quantity of bandages, absorb- 
ent cotton and a bowl, and says:) 

Katherine. You can now bathe the injured 

33 



[ ACT I ] The Trend 

part, and I shall dress it for you. You should 
not allow the inflammation to develop to such an 
extent as it would by waiting so long for atten- 
tion. 

Raleigh (surprised). Thank you, thank 
you. How good and kind you are. But — 
but (Katherine confused.) 

Katherine. How stupid! I have forgotten 
the lotion. I will fetch it at once. 

Raleigh. Thank you, but I am sure I shall 
not need it. (Katherine in the house.) 

Raleigh. How shall I ever repay her? 
Heavens, I believe I am in love again. I am 
puzzled. What shall I do? I'll propose. I'll 
propose. (Katherine comes out of the house.) 

Raleigh {continues). I'll propose. I'll pro- 
pose. (Katherine draws near him. He says:) 

I was just saying, I propose — I propose find- 
ing my party before returning home to-night. 
(Katherine^ with towel, dries the injured part 
gently J soaks a cloth with liniment, wraps it about 
the wrist and then dixsses it with the bandage 
cloth and says:) 

Katherine. I am sorry father and mother 
are not at home, for they might do something 
more for you. Won't you have a seat on the 
porch while I go for mother and our little party? 

Raleigh. Oh, no, no; thank you very much, 
but I am sure nothing more could possibly be 
done than you have already so kindly done for 

34 



The Trend [ act i ] 

me. ( Raleigh moves off a few steps. Thinks, 
looks at Katherine^ says:) 

You have been very kind, and I am most grate- 
ful for all you have done, and now — as one good 
turn deserves another — I trust you will forgive 
me for taking the liberty of asking if there is not 
something I could possibly do to return my obli- 
gation? I am most desirous of being of service, 
and you seem so anxious. 

Katherine {confused, then laughs). Oh, 
there is nothing in reality. There is nothing, I 
assure you. I was only thinking of life to-day 
and the lonely part of it that we have to endure 
at times, and now it all seems such a coincident, 
for this is Leap year — 

Raleigh (surprised and disconcerted). Oh, 
yes. Yes, yes — of course. Of course this is 
Leap year. But what has this to do with this 
show of consternation? 

Katherine {more composedly j in a very de- 
cided and bewitching manner). Well — well — 
to be exact and plain, and since you ask me, I 
will tell you. I had just resolved, before you 
arrived, to pour out my feelings to and ask some 
good man to be my guiding star and protector 
forevermore. 

Raleigh {starting, steps aside and exclaims:) 
Well, well — I have been in much speculation. I 
have had many narrow escapes, been in close 
range many times with my adversaries, have fol- 

35 



[ ACT I ] The Trend 

lowed the hounds through almost impassable 
ways with imminent danger on all sides, and have 
had to have courage in this world to save myself 
from destruction; but I'll be blessed if this isn't 
the hardest of all situations or conditions I have 
yet had to solve. {Thinks a moment^ advances 
toward Katherine^ looks upon her wealth of 
brown hair earnestly^ while Katherine looks 
defiant but mingles with it some encouragement, ) 
Can it be true that this is no ruse or jest, and do 
you really mean, measure and weigh all that 
you say? 

Katherine (roguishly), I always mean 
what I say. (Then retorted reproachfully:) 
How could a lady do otherwise? 

Raleigh (aside). Strange, strange — I must 
confess, but now I stand face to face with a 
proposition for being gallant, and I could never 
be accused of such a breach of manly conduct as 
it would warrant should I decline the challenge. 
(Moves toward Katherine. Katherine looks 
toward the ground. Raleigh kneels before her, 
looks up into her face and says fervently:) 

Noble one, with spirit of a saint, 

For what else could a woman be 

Who has thus so highly honored me? 

Just such a fair one as you 

I have lived and longed to meet, 

And I therefore place myself at your feet. 

36 



The Trend [ act i ] 

I have loved the plain and unpretentious more 

and more, 
And now this stirs me to the core, 
To find such a fair woman so honest and so bold. 

{A moments silence,) 

May I kiss your hand once, in reverence of my 
esteem? (Takes hand and attempts to press it 
to his lips.) 

Katherine {withdraws it somewhat angrily,) 
You have no right thus to do. 

Raleigh (rises , moves aside again, thinks , 
then says:) With all my heart I will honor 
thee; with all my power I will reverence thee. 
Your courage and your features will always be 
treasured in my memory and imprinted upon my 
heart. (The prattle of the children is heard as 
they return,) But alas, alas — it cannot be, for 
I am betrothed to another. (At this moment a 
blast of the horn of the hunt club is heard. ) 

Raleigh (cries:) The hounds! The hounds! 
They return this way. (He starts to hurry off, 
gaining some distance; he turns, looks toward 
Katherine and reverently says:) I owe you 
a lifelong debt, and may it yet be in my power 
at least to make a partial payment in some form 
(and as he hurries off, adds:) Farewell — fare- 
well, kind one, farewell. (As he passes from 
the scene the children enter again. Katherine 
excitedly but lovingly cares for them and asks if 

37 



[ ACT I ] The Trend 

they will have food or drink, as Curate Rol- 
lins^ Mrs. Janeway and Nina come upon the 
scene. Strange shrieks of a woman's voice are 
heard, A few moments later a man dressed in 
hunting costume hurriedly enters, asks for water, 
saying that a lady has been thrown from her 
horse, and fears she is badly injured, A moment 
later Katherine and Curate Rollins leave for 
the scene of accident. In a short time Kath- 
erine returns, and excitedly tells her mother of 
the calamity and the probable death of a lady 
rider, and almost faints as Nina leads the chil- 
dren into the house,) 



38 



ACT II. 



ACT II. 

{Three years later. The Janeway household j 
now in New York, is once more greatly re- 
plenished by Mr. J^neway^s association 
with Harry Dodge in his new match ven- 
ture , which is so successful that it has made 
all those interested in the match production 
most pj'osperous and sanguine in their an- 
ticipations. Mrs. Janeway^ always devout, 
religious, and careful of her associations, is 
now passed away, and upon Katherine is 
devolved the household cares and the care of 
Mr. Janeway. Katherine is endowed 
with a most pleasing and captivating person- 
ality, and what nature could not do for her 
in polish and culture a renowned body of 
teachers have bestowed upon her; she, how- 
ever, is one who no one can foretell what her 
real and natural character will develop, for 
she is like a beautiful stray bud of some rare 
plant, but not knowing the nature of the 
plant, it is impossible to tell which way the 
beauty of its offspring will turn, or whether 
darker and somber tendencies will outweigh 
the lighter and more pleasing shades. 
Katherine at times is serious and sober, and 

41 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

at others most charmingly vivacious and 
brilliant J and after a very careful and watch- 
ful training by her adopted mother ^ and 
spending several years of her life in a con- 
ventj we find her now about twenty-four 
years of age, with lovely form and features 
bright, radiant, and a great favorite in a fast 
and fashionable society in the great metropo- 
lis. She proves herself a delightful hostess 
for her aged father, and is surrounded with 
every luxury. There are receptions, opera 
parties, dinners and balls often during this 
winter through the Janeways^ hospitality, 
due to a lenient and indulgent old father's 
pleasure in serving his fascinating adopted 
daughter. One night during the middle of 
December the Janeway mansion on Fifth 
Avenue is thrown open to a cultivated col- 
lection of people who represent that class of 
society that is famous in New York for 
wealth and fashion. The time, labor and 
services of those known in the arts of decora- 
tion and for making a feast of the kind con- 
spicuous and successful are employed, in- 
cluding a celebrated French caterer, to pre- 
pare the delicacies and the beverages for the 
table, and a noted decorator to carry out the 
picturesque program. The feature of the 
night is to be the rendering of a classic song 
by Katherine Janeway, after which many 

42 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

noted professionals will follow; then supper, 
and finally dancing, is the well worked out 
plan of the entertainment. The Janeways 
are at the height of their anticipation in life. 
The old father is happy because he is once 
more a man of means, after having suffered 
reverses, and can again indulge the child of 
his adoption with all she cares to have, and 
dream and anticipate her happiness with her, 
all of which crowns his joys to the unbound- 
ed, while she glitters in jewels and is radi- 
antly happy as she realizes the dreams of her 
younger days, that of living in the great city 
of Netv York, mingling with many fashion- 
able personages, and surrounded by all the 
latest fads that can be afforded.) 

{Reception room, situated next to the ball room 
in Herbert Janeway^s Fifth Avenue man- 
sion, in New York. Soon after dinner 
Harry Dodge meets Mr. Janeway, to talk 
over private business matters before the 
guests begin to arrive.) 

Dodge. Yes, sir; things are moving glori- 
ously in our favor. We had to-day from the 
Consolidated Match Company, which is a con- 
tributory of the American Gas Company of New 
York, which in turn is controlled or owned by 
the National Oil Company of America, with all 
its subsidiaries, a most flattering offer for our 

43 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

franchise and process and a major portion of 
our stock; they now offer us par for the stock, 
which you know, sir, they refused to accept three 
years ago at five dollars a share. (Dodge re- 
markably pleased as Me. Janeway looks upon 
him beamingly,) 

Me. Janeway. My boy, you have made a 
wonderful record, which reached a climax to-day, 
and places you in an enviable position. To have 
such old heads, with long experience in finance 
and business, to come to you with such a flatter- 
ing proposition is certainly a position of which 
any young man should be proud. (Pause for a 
moment. ) But I, in my himible opinion, would 
advise you not to acquiesce; not because they 
will not be able to carry out any part of any 
agreement in which they may enter, but they 
will only subject you to humiliation at some 
future time, as they humiliated me after I had 
agreed to sell out my nail business to that great 
combination that is now affiliated with the Na- 
tional Oil Company of America. They do not 
want your business for any purpose but to de- 
throne it, and you with it, so that you and your 
business cannot disturb their progress or produc- 
tion by competition, and now I would say, hold 
on to your own, strive as you have ; you have the 
grit; you have shown it; you are young and 
strong, and you will only have to continue in the 
future as you have done in the past to land in 

. ■ 44 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

some position that is far above your dreams to- 
day of a most flattering success and business 
career. I say this after my experience with just 
such a combination of men, or devils, as time will 
show, that are now trying to weave you into their 
net of destruction. While you are young and 
innocent of their dreadful deeds and the inhuman 
actions they resort to when wishing to carry out 
some of their selfish purposes or greedy desires, 
my boy, I would say, hold on to what you have, 
steer your course alone, and what you derive 
from your own endeavors will be gained honor- 
ably, at least ; and while it may not be so produc- 
tive in a monetary way, I am sure you will be 
happier, even though your plans may give you 
more trouble and less material wealth than you 
would accumulate by resorting to questionable 
and unseeming actions which promote such a 
large corporation as you speak of now. 

Dodge {approaches Mr. Janeway, extends 
his hand in a manly manner:) You said the 
other day you did not know how to acknowledge 
and thank me for services I had rendered you. 
If you are at all indebted to me, sir, you have 
more than repaid that indebtedness a thousand 
fold by your frank and fatherly advice — {and as 
if wishing to say something more that is nearer 
to his heartj he breathlessly and with much ex- 
citement, falters:) Mr. Janeway^ Katherine 

— Mr. Janeway, Katherine " 

45 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

(A sweet voice calling "Father^ father/* 

is heard from some one near at hand and 

approaching, A moment later j as Dodge 

eccitSj Katherine Janeway is at the feet 

of her adopted father, imploring him to 

be good and gracious on this evening 

which would prove to be the climaxing 

period of her childish life. Then she 

says:) 

You know I am now no longer a butterfly, as 

of the years gone by. I feel as the time goes on 

that there are more responsibilities in life than 

I had ever dreamed of. Just think of the great 

and awful powers that are bestowed upon one 

single human being at certain times of life. It 

seems that one becomes a real representative of 

our Father above to command one, two, or more 

of his creatures upon this earth. 

(Mr. Janeway looks up in surprise at this 
outburst of seriousness on the part of his 
adopted daughter, and inquires of her 
more minutely as to her meaning, and 
finally elicits from her her real meaning 
as she says:) 
I believe men are not men at all, but only chil- 
dren at play, for I am quite sure I hold the des- 
tiny already of several within the palm of my 
hand, or could command them with a wave of my 
wand, as was done by witches of yore. 

Mr. Janeway. You must not be so sure of 

46 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

your great powers over the fickle man — but I 
know it, I know it only too well. I can see that 
your movements are felt in every direction when 
you are in company with my sex, and that your 
attractive powers are envied and talked of by 
your own sex. 

{After a pause father and daughter get 
upon their feet, and as the father lovingly 
caresses his yet frivolous child, in whom 
he has just noted the first dawn of the 
real seriousness of life, says, as the daugh- 
ter hows her head low:) 

May your new life be blessed with all that is due 
to a faithful and loving child. 

{The daughter kisses the father a loving 
good-bye and leaves the room to dress for 
the grand occasion of the night,) 

(Mr. JanewaYj alone and already attired 
in evening dress, soliloquizes:) 
What is the use of trying to understand it all? 
The world is governed by higher authority than 
is upon this globe, and right is might, and is 
bound to rule in the end. They by pretence have 
robbed and humiliated me by getting control of 
my business, solely for the purpose of closing up 
my plant, so that I could no longer disturb them 
in carrying out their dastardly deeds of organ- 
ization and sole control of the wire nail busi- 
ness. {Pause,) After shutting up my factory 

47 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

they made me a member of the Directorate, and 
then dictated terms to me that were so overbear- 
ing and obscene that it drove me out from the 
sheer force of their iniquities, they calculating 
at the time that I would be so disabled from age 
and physical weakness that I would no longer 
be able to antagonize them. They were correct 
in their conclusions until the present stage of the 
struggle, but now satisfaction seems to come to 
me in the end by God's guidance, that young 
soul Dodge has placed me once more in position 
where I will dictate to them. Yes, to them, with 
all their showy wealth in store, fraudulently and 
stealthily obtained by shameful actions and self- 
ish deeds. Ha, ha, ha! the victory is not yet 
won, and we have our ammunition and stores of 
war at hand, and with all the generalship from 
my great experience, and with all the fire and 
power that is left in this old and decaying body, 
I will fight them on and on to the end — yes, fight 
them hard and to the end; yes, even to the end. 
{As these last words are dying from the lips 
of the old gentleman, music, the first of 
the evening, is heard emitting softly from 
the hall-room. Nina appears before Mr. 
Janeway^ who seems utterly oblivious of 
all his surroundings,) 
Nina. Sir, Miss Janeway requests your 
presence in her boudoir ; she wishes you to see her 
and to know if you approve of her attire. 

48 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

(As Mr. Janeway and Nina leave the 
room Harry Dodge and Harry Brown 
enter, appearing in great glee, and in ani- 
mated conversation about the coup of the 
day in Wall street.) 
Brown. Yes, we have pressed them hard, 
our product is growing more popular every day 
with the public, our match is fast taking the 
place of all others in use, and that, you know, is 
something they cannot withstand. Our foreign 
trade is growing enormous, and we shall soon 
have to have additional plants. The Trust Al- 
liance knows we shall have them in our power 
sooner or later, since our match has so many good 
qualities over anything they can manufacture, 
and, to their chagrin, we are protected by the 
laws of patents. They realize that they cannot 
make anything which will come within the range 
of our process. They know we have the advan- 
tage of a cheap article, as well as a good one. 
We have them cornered, and I predict before 
long they will offer us two hundred dollars a 
share instead of the one hundred dollars offered 
to-day for a major portion of our stock. 

(The men laugh gleefully at the predica- 
ment the Consolidated 3Iatch Company 
has placed about themselves and their loss 
of the monopoly of the match business, 
even though they are backed or owned by 
the great Oil Trust of America,) 
49 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

Dodge. Brown^ you speak well, and matters 
really look favorable for us, but do you not know 
that sometimes I fairly shiver to the soles of my 
feet when I think of the gigantic organizations 
we are fighting and the way they fight. They 
resort to any means, at times, to carry their point 
when they are hard pressed. Think of the in- 
fluence and affluence at the hands of this giant of 
finance. They are capable and cool-headed 
business men of long experience, their lawyers 
are the best legal talent obtainable, they are well 
fortified politically, which means much when in 
a fight such as we will have to wage, and if I may 
say so, politics and finance, nowadays, have much 
influence over the judiciary. 

(He places his hand on the shoulder of his 
friend and co-operator, and says seri- 
ously:) 
Old man, we have no easy task before us, but 
we are in the struggle at least to stand fast. 
Brown. I am, to the end. 
Dodge. And I, with heart and soul, even to 
eternity. 

{A strange and weird strain is heard. It is 
the beginning of the long-looked for mo- 
ment by Katherine Janeway. It is the 
prelude of her song that is to make her 
famous or otherwise,) 
(Brown attempts to show his comradeship 
with Dodge by shaking his hand, but 

50 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

Dodge seems breathless and colorless with 
emotion. He creeps into a place of ad- 
vantage and says:) 
Will you remain with me, Brown? I can- 
not brave it, I can go no closer, I shall go 
no nearer {and as he tries to control him- 
self ^ his color seems like one in death,) 
(Brown stands close to him and grasps his 
hand, as he looks as though he will fall. 
The next second a deep and magic note 
sounds upon the hushed and deeply si- 
lenced atmosphere. There is a tremor j 
then a trill, and then a succession of weird 
notes like the sound of thunder, and then 
like the pattering of ram 07i the housetop; 
then several strokes of lightning. The 
music is strange and weird, and then at 
intervals it is both sentimental and emo- 
tional. The time and notes are most re- 
plete and perfect for exactness and 
strength, and brings forth an extreme va- 
riety of sound and contrast with exquisite 
vibration. ) 
(Dodge listeris with intensity, so much so 
that he is almost marble-like in color, and 
now, after the first introduction and 
deafening applause resounds in his ears, 
his face flushes, and as the rare voice 
starts again upon its curious portrayal of 
nature, which is pathetic at times and 

51 



[ ACT II ] The Thend 

strangely poetic and romantic at others, 
and in which intermingles a fervent prayer 
of a Shepherdess to Heaven for the safe 
delivery of her flock from the fury of the 
storm, ) 
(Dodge again clutches the hand of his 
friend without uttering a word, and there 
remains until the last note of this very 
quaint and absorbing classic rendered by 
Katherine Janeway^ amidst a profuse 
hand-clapping, is at an end. He then 
quietly says to Brown:) 
I must go ; I must go at once and congratulate 
her. Will you come? 

(The next moment the men leave the scene, 
evidently much relieved, but excitedly 
move towards the great assembly of peo- 
ple in the ball room, who are offering their 
congratulations to her who has made for 
herself, in the last few moments, so envi- 
able a place in the hearts and minds of the 
exclusive set of the great metropolis,) 
(Mr. Janeway appears in the reception 
room, surrounded by a bevy of young 
matrons and maids and men of fashion, 
offering their congratulations to him for 
the achievement of his daughter,) 
Mrs. Westerbury {a leader of the "sxvell" 
set, says, in offering her hand) , You should be 
proud of your daughter. She is a prize, and one 

52 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

any man should be proud of, either as a father 
or a husband. 

Mrs. Fletcher. Allow me to congratulate 
you, my dear Mr. Janeway. You have a lovely 
child in your care, and if I dare say so, from now 
on you will have more care than ever before ; she 
will be sought after in many and various man- 
ners ; but take care and see that she gets a man, 
and not an imitation or dummy, for a husband. 
(And many other such words of congratula- 
tions follow J with hand-shakings, until the 
old gentleman, overwhelmed on all sides, 
is carried off his feet and out of the recep- 
tion room by many young maidens to the 
grill room. The music begins once more. 
Many couples leave the room for dancing, 
while Mrs. Westerbury and Mrs. 
Fletcher^ in company with several other 
ladies, stand gossiping about affairs af- 
fecting society.) 
Mrs. Westerbury. And I hear she is al- 
ready engaged to that uninteresting young man 
who is in business with her father. Such a pity 
for so beautiful and brilliant a girl to throw her 
life away thus, by giving it up to such a narrow- 
minded human being as he must be. Why, they 
say he is so jealous that he hates to have another 
soul look upon her fair face. How absurd, how 
ridiculous! Ha, ha, ha! Mary, think of the 
time he would have, if it should prove to be the 

53 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

case. He would go about half mad, I dare say, 
with his star of grace and beauty, who would flirt 
with men of her equal, for I hear she is really very 
coquettish. She would make a beautiful partner 
for a man of the world, you know; such as my 
dear husband was when he was young. He fair- 
ly made me flirt with other women's husbands 
and young men, as you know, and this has been 
most entertaining and charming to me in life. 

Mrs. Fletcher. Certainly you did, and you 
also took the gentleman into your confidence and 
borrowed a few hundreds or thousands, as the 
case might be, when you were in need of ready 
cash for keeping up your margins, or to pay off 
your indebtedness at cards, or to bet on your 
favorite horses. 

Mrs. Westerbury. Ah, Mary, dear, that has 
been the case so often that it is quite natural for 
me now to do so. 

(Mrs. Barbour^ a young matron with more 
polish and good looks than morals, ap- 
proaches lightly, and hanteringly says to 
Mrs. Westerbury;) 

My leader and mistress of the social empire, 
pray tell me something of the new leader in the 
political world, that head who has ascended to 
the coveted throne without a wife. 

Mrs. Westerbury {half seriously.) Ah, 
dear me, another commoner, and I suppose we 
will be compelled to take him under our fold. 

54 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

Uneducated, unrefined, and very coarse; knows 
nothing but the game of politics, but very rich 
and holds more power over New York City, in- 
cluding the Supreme Court judges, than any 
other person on earth. 

Mrs. Barbour. A good recommendation, I 
confess. Will you give me an introduction soon? 
I aspire to wealth and politics of the day in ac- 
cordance with my ideas of living, and besides, you 
know we have had great trouble of late. Father 
has lost heavily in stocks, and my husband 
has been cut off from his allowance, and I 
do desire so much to meet such a good little 
lamb like Mr. O'Neil, of whom you speak, and 
who is so innocent of our life and the works of 
our set. I would like to cultivate his acquaint- 
ance. It would be intensely entertaining to 
watch him develop; must be highly interest- 
ing to first see him creep, then his first step, 
and finally, I suppose, like all the rest of 
his clan, his final and last fall backward 
into degradation, or to his original state 
or flock. Ha, ha! If not into the peniten- 
tiary, where so many of his kind abide. Oh, 
how I would love to meet this present lion from 
the jungles of this mighty city. You know that 
it would be jolly good fun, as w^ell as very prac- 
tical, at this particular time for me. Now, my 
dear Mrs. Westerbury, do you not think you 
can arrange this little affair for me? I promise 

55 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

to be good, and when I ascend to the throne of 
government (I believe they call it petticoat gov- 
ernment, even to controlling the old and very 
grave judges (sarcastically) of our beautiful 
state), you may depend upon me at all times to 
be of service to you. Remember your husband 
sometimes has legal entanglements to straighten 
out about this great railroad system in the state. 

Mrs. Westerbury. Well, well, Rose Bar- 
bour, I am surprised ; but I suppose it is all due 
to the capriciousness of the times in which we 
live. History repeats itself, and we are only 
imitating our forefathers and mothers of years 
ago, when petticoat government ruled the des- 
tiny of monarchs and nations. 

(All) Ha, ha, ha! Good, good! 

Mrs. Barbour (to Mrs. Westerbury). Al- 
ways willing and ready to respond to a good and 
witty or practical move, whether it be of prose 
or poetry. (Then, addressing all:) 

Ladies, you see this genius who compels us 
all to follow and to be loyal and loveable to her, 
as our leader, and I now move that we give three 
cheers and a kiss to our fair, wise and brave 
empress. 

(Now there is approaching a crowd of peo- 
ple , gaily talking and claiming engage- 
mentSj as Katherine Janeway enters, 
attired in a lovely gown and flushed with 
the excitement attending her successes. 

56 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

Many young men are surrounding her, 
one claiming a dance, another a few mo- 
ments of conversation, and another beg- 
ging to place his name on her list of 
dances, and lastly and most earnestly, 
both Dodge and Raleigh claim her re- 
spectively as their partner to supper,) 
(Mrs. Westerbury comes to Katherine''s 
rescue tdth her experience and trained tac- 
tics, which seem to make her word law, 
whether it concerns man or woman; and 
she tenderly strokes the poor girVs head 
and brow, who is now fairly overcome by 
the attentions and tribute paid her.) 
Mrs. Westerbury. My child, you must be 
tired. Think of the strain that has been imposed 
upon you this evening. You must take a few 
minutes' rest and join me on the other side of 
the room for recreation, or a little gossip that is 
so requisite to womenkind. The gentlemen, I 
am sure, will allow this privilege, while they 
smoke or take a stroll to the grill room. 

(Good, good! shout several men,) I have 
thought that that was necessary for the last half 
hour, responds Raleigh, but you see, it takes 
a woman's wit and ready diplomacy to mnke 
such a suggestion without incurring the disfavor 
of any one. 

{Some of the men leave the room, yet Dodge 

57 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

remains, with two or three others, who are 
talking to some ladies,) 

(Mrs. Westerbury leads Katherine to a 
seat near a corner in the room and begins 
to converse with her in a manner which 
seems more serious than restful, and 
finally, after the last man leaves, Mrs. 
Westerbury exclaims : ) 

What say you, Mary (addressing Mrs. 
Fletcher) ; Mary, what say you? I have com- 
menced to give our honored star a little motherly 
advice; what say you to w^hat I have said? I 
have told her that she is now upon the threshold 
of a great danger. Every man from the cellar 
to the garret is madlj^ in love with her. I have 
told her to be careful and observing in her choice 
and that when her decree must fall, to allow it to 
fall firmly upon a man of the world and not a 
stick or a dummy. Take a man of the world with 
experience in the world, as the world is, and 
never a narrow, frail-minded one who will stick 
so close to her apron strings that it will be im- 
possible for another man to look upon her fair 
face at all. We are a family of beings, requir- 
ing an intermingling of others to keep us well- 
balanced and broad. Why, my poor life would 
have been ground out of me long, long ago, had 
I been held down by some poor, miserable speck 
of humanity. Ah, Mary, you know the freedom 

58 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

I have had, and how I have enjoyed it. Don't 
you think I have, dear? 

Mrs. Fletcher. Why, of course I do. 
Mrs. Westerbury. And to think now of so 
beautiful and attractive a girl as our dear Kath- 
ERiNE has proven herself to be, to think of tying 
herself to such a selfish and narrow an individual 
as he must be, and all for the mere sake of senti- 
ment, or for what he has done in a material way 
for her father, seems ridiculous. Why, she her- 
self will shine so brilliantly in the future that she 
will be able to command the wealth and wisdom 
of a monarch, with all his dependencies. Ha, ha, 
ha ! No — no, my dear Katherine^ it must never 
be so. You must have some one with good tact, 
manly and experienced in the world, and broad 
enough at least to allow another human being, 
either man or woman, to look upon your fair 
face. 

(Mr. Janeway^ with a crowd of young men 
following him, enters. Apparently some 
of them are under the influence of wine. 
They come upon the scene arm in arm. 
These frivolous young men seem in full 
enjoyment of the festivities. Mr. Jane- 
way cries out:) 
Katherine^ Katherine^ my dear, where are 
you? I wish to congratulate you, my dear; you 
have charmed me, as well as all the men present 
on this evening. If you could only hear the 

59 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

praise that has been given you! I am proud of 
you. I am proud of you, and this is all I can say 
of you now {and he kisses his adopted daughter 
fervently ) . 

(Katherine leaves the room upon the arm 
of a young man who claims a dance with 
her. Many other young ladies^ with their 
escortSj likewise leave as the music com- 
mences, ) 
(The remaining men and women begin to 
discuss the respective merits of the horses 
that are to appear in the races in the south 
during the following week, hut soon they 
all finally leave Mr. Janeway alone in 
his big chair, musing under the strain of 
things. ) 
(Katherine stealthily enters alone, and 
seeks her father's advice about a vital ques- 
tion, that of giving her heart and hand 
away in marriage. She says:) 
Father, father, do help me {as she falls upon 
her knees by the side of her father) . What shall 
I do? Harry is fretting himself into a fury and 
insists upon having an answer at once. 

Mr. Janeway. What, at such a time as this ? 
{More thoughtfully). Well, the poor boy has 
the fever like the rest, or he wouldn't be human 
if he hadn't. What have you told him, my dear? 
Katherine. I have told him that he was 
foolish. 

60 



The Trend [actii] 

Mr. Janeway. I concur with you in one re- 
spect—foolish about the time he speaks of it, but 
never about the girl involved. 

Katherine. Will you go and see him and 
tell him that I appreciate all he has done, but that 
he should wait for a short time longer, and try to 
calm him, for he seems to be almost in a frenzy. 
Mr. Janeway. Certainly, my dear, certain- 
ly. I will seek him at once. 

{As Mr. Janeway leaves the room, Ra- 
leigh lea2:}s from, behind a window cur- 
tain into the room. He has overheard the 
conversation between Katherine and her 
father, and he claims her as his fiancee, 
earnestly and fervently as he says:) 
You asked me to marry you three years ago, 
{With beating heart, at first, Katherine 
seems frightened and, as he claims her 
hand, she recoils and says:) 
Oh, do forgive me, do forgive it all; how silly 
it appears now. You see, in reality it was only 
a woman's whim or a silly dream that I mdulged 
in at the time. {Pause, Then:) 

And besides {playfully), Mr. Raleigh, such 
terms or propositions would not be honored now; 
they are outlawed by time, and if negotiations 
for another deal are to be opened, then other 
precedence will have to be estabUshed and other 
form of procedure will have to take the place 

61 



[ ACT II ] The Teend 

of those that were prevalent at the time you 
speak of. 

Raleigh. Oh, Katherine^ do not talk thus 
of my devotion to you ; do not make light of my 
burning love for you. You know that I have 
waited and waited for this moment since that 
eventful hour of three years ago when Alice 
was brought helpless to your door and only lived 
a few moments afterward. She, of course, as 
you know, was the one I loved and to whom I 
was espoused, but when she was no longer, and 
after all honor had been paid her, you were next 
in my thoughts. 

Katherine. Oh, then, I am only second 
choice after all. 

Raleigh. Do not trifle, this is no time or place 
for such proceedings. I adore you, you can com- 
mand my existence, and give me such life as I 
have never yet known and you hold in your hand 
my destiny. It is at your command. 

{He seeks her hand again, she withdraws 
it and says:) 

Mr. Raleigh^ truly, you have no right to as- 
sume such a liberty. 

Raleigh {bewildered for a moment). But 
think of the suffering you impose upon me. Re- 
member, you are my sole redeemer and my sole 
director. Remember, no matter what your will 
may be, I am ready to abide by your command. 

62 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

Tell me Yes or No at this moment, for it is all 
too horrible to bear another day, or even an hour. 

Katherine. Mr. Raleigh {seriously) I 
cannot understand this outburst of emotion. I 
have never heard of such a devotion being in 
existence before, and I have seen you many times 
within three years. You must remember that an 
answer to such an appeal cannot be given at a 
moment's notice. You are honorable, you are 
judicious and wise, think for a moment, how 
could I say a word of encouragement to you 
without due reflection. 

Raleigh. But you know I love you, I love 
you intensely, more than any other human being 
could love another. 

Katherine (mischieveously) . Yes, but you 
have already refused me and my love once and 
I must be a little more careful next time when I 
oflPer it out too generously to the first one that 
comes along as I did three years ago. 

Mr. Janeway (calls out) Katherine^ 
Katherine. 

Raleigh {lamenting) . Do tell me something, 
do tell me that I can hope. 

{As Mr. Janeway approaches, Raleigh 
excitedly and anxiously awaiting,) 

Katherine. Oh, yes, yes, you can hope, we 
will see what time will do. 

(Mr. Janeway enters, says aloud:) Dodge, 
poor boy, is almost wild with fervent love, and 

63 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

the excitement of the day and evening together 
with his business cares are weighing heavily upon 
him, but good, Hke he is always when I spoke 
to him, he calmed and said he saw his folly or 
the injustice he has done and will henceforth be 
more sensible. 

{While Katherine and her father are 
eagerly engaged in conversation, Raleigh 
steps back in the rear and heai^s all that is 
said. He stands motionless and white, 
and as the last words are uttered, sighi 
deeply. ) 
(Mrs. Westerbury enters hurriedly and 
seizes Raleigh by the arm and says in 
low but audible tones.) 
"How did you make out? I have done all 
that I can do for you; paved the way the best I 
knew how, and now the rest will have to be left 
in your own hands and to the works of God." 
(Raleigh moves convulsively at the word 
''God.'' It seems like mockery to him 
under the conditions he lives. He only 
motions to Mrs. Westerbury to take his 
arm and he escorts her out of the room into 
the glare of the ball room, with all its en- 
tertaining elements of eoccitement.) 
{After some silence Katherine says, seri- 
ously.) 
Harry is a good soul and a loveable boy, the 
best in the world. What would we have done 

64 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

without him, we owe all to him, and it will be an 
unpayable debt, due to him, from us to Eternity. 
Mr. Janeway. Ah, tut, tut, my child, do not 
grow serious under such conditions as we have 
here to-night. It is for jollification and happi- 
ness and you should be happy, if there is such 
a thing as happiness in this world. You should 
be grateful to Heaven and to mortals for all that 
has been done for you and for placing you in 
such an enviable position as you have ascended 
to to-night. 

Katherine. Ah, I am grateful, most grate- 
ful for it all, but somehow there is a coldness 
within me which suiTOunds my cheerfulness and 
is hard to throw off. How it came, or what it is, 
I cannot tell. Ah, it is there and deeply rooted. 
Now {after some deep reflection she says, sadly:) 
Oh, if mother was with us now, so that I could 
speak with her and hear once more words of com- 
fort and encouragement and her final appeal to 
Heaven to deliver us from evil. 

{The old gentleman looks very sad as he 
hears the name of his good wife and 
Katherine speak of her thus.) 
(Katherine looks tired j her face becomes 
white and meditative, and the father 
and daughter muse for a time. Kath- 
erine kisses her father and leaves for the 
hall room. There is wafted into the room 
a number of Wall Street men; approach- 
es 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

ing, they say they are looking for Mr. 
Janeway and Uncle Billy Marshall^ 
the great wit and moralist of the Street, 
who has spent his life in the Street, 
has been broken or bankrupt half a dozen 
times, and is yet fairly well to do, is al- 
ways cheerful and has an impediment in 
his speech. As the men draw near, they 
cry out:) 
Uncle Billy^ where shall we find you. Oh, 
Uncle Billy^ where shall we find you. 

{They speak to Mr. Janeway^ who is in a 
serious mood, and in his customary chair, 
looking far and deep into the unknown. 
Young Rockwell lightly and airily 
says:) 
Ah, Mr. Janeway^ you seem deeply con- 
cerned about something. 

{And then touching him lightly and gently 

upon his shoulder, says:) 
Does it pay, Sir, to enwrap one's self in the 
mysteries of life, after so long and well spent one 
as yours seems to have been? 

{Before Mr. Janeway answers, young 

Morton says:) 

Mr. Janeway^ can you tell us something 

about Uncle Billy Marshall^ or where he has 

crouched himself? We have looked in every hole, 

comer and crevice, but of no avail. 

(Mr. Janeway seems to arouse himself; 
says:) 

66 



The Teend [ act ii ] 

Ah, Boys, indeed I cannot tell you. Isn't he 
to be found, I dare say he is in some cosy corner 
with some prepossessing young maid or matron 
and cannot be parted. I am sure you will yet 
find him here. 

Wall Street Men. Good, good, bravo, 
bravo I 

Young Morton. We wish Uncle Billy to 
tell us his latest experience, or a story, you know, 
and give us a lesson in his well-earned and prac- 
tical philosophy. 

Young Whitehouse. Boys, I could tell you 
one story that was told to me the other evening at 
Uncle Billyhs expense. 

Do — do — cry all in chorus. 

Whitehouse. It seems, during the last horse 
show, Uncle Billy was accompanied by some 
of his friends, who took a delight in showing him 
the fine thoroughbreds that were winners of the 
Blue Ribbon, all of which, or nearly all, were 
owned by members of the New York Stock Ex- 
change. The old gentleman looked long and 
keenly at the horses, one after another, and ad- 
mired them immensely, and then finally, after 
the long line had come to an end, he stood for 
a moment or two in deep contemplation and ex- 
pectancy, and then said in his usual droll man- 
ner and stammering speech: "Now, B-boys, 
you have shown m-me all of the brokers' h-horses, 
n-now wh-where are the cus-customers' h-horses? 

67 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

(Huj, ha, ha, good, good, good, just like 
Uncle Billy^ shouts someone, and much 
laughter is indulged in by all of the men, 
in which Mr. Janeway heartily joins, and 
now Young Chase says:) 
I have heard another story at the expense of 
Uncle Billy. He went off to Washington one 
day during last winter for a few days' recrea- 
tion and as some of his New York friends had 
opened a branch office in that city. He called 
in one day, and, as is usual in such offices, there 
were three large black-boards on the wall for the 
purpose of keeping records of prices and sales. 
After Uncle Billy had looked around the 
office and had been introduced to many Wash- 
ingtonians, among whom were some Senators 
and many Representatives in Congress, and 
while Uncle Billy was looking at the boards 
for the price of some stock, and all the gentlemen 
stood about, he was asked by the proud resident 
manager of what he thought of the arrangements 
of the office. Uncle Billy stood silent for a 
moment or two, as if reflecting deeply and seri- 
ously, and then said : Well, gentlemen, all seems 
perfectly suited and convenient for the transac- 
tion of business, but, but, there is one thing I 
cannot help saying when I think of the ups and 
downs of Wall Street during my long experi- 
ence. These boards here in front of me seem 
to express my feelings regarding three great 

68 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

dominating elements of the Street, and I will tell 
you what they are. Then pointing his finger he 
said : This first board here seems to me to repre- 
sent the institution that is known to us all as the 
poor house; the second board there appeals to 
me as an asylum for the insane; and the third 
board there appears to me like an undertaker's 
establishment. Now% gentlemen, do be careful, 
and when you enter either one of these three 
great institutions see that you select the one that 
will furnish you the least suffering or concern. 
And he quietly walked out of the office and back 
to his hotel. 

{Ha J ha J ha! they all shout, including Mr 
Janeway. At this mo7nent jSIr. JMar- 
SHALL comes forth into the room. There 
is a shout of joy as he enters. He looks 
calm and serious and very innocent of all 
the transpirings. Two or three of the 
young men take his arm and lead him to 
the front as he stammers to jNIr. Jane- 
way.) 

Herbert, I only called to thank you for your 
kind invitation. I have enjoyed myself im- 
mensely. I am going home now, so good-night 
(and offers his hand). 

{A perfect shout rings out: Oh, oh, Mr. 
Marshall, tell us a story before you go.) 

(Do, do, cry the young men.) 

69 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

(Uncle Billy looks puzzled j hut caliUj 
good natured and gentlemanly, he now 
adds:) 
Herbert, give my love to your daughter, she 
is one to be proud of, and tell her so for me. 
{As Mr. Janeavay was about to xvalk to 
the door with Uncle Billy^ young 
Rockwell says:) 
Mr. Marshall^ what do you think of the 
times? Is there any imminent danger of a panic 
as there is now so often spoken of? 

(Mr. Marshall takes a prominent posi- 
tion in front of the scene, parts his feet 
a little, drops his head in unison with his 
^ stooping shoulders, looks thoughfully, 

and then says:) 
Well, boys, I do not know, I cannot discern 
things in such a manner. 

{And then with a twinkle in his eye and 
much humor, says:) 
I only wish I could, you know how valuable it 
would be in Wall Street to foretell events. 

Rockwell. But do you not calculate on 
events before they arrive, Mr. Marshall. 

Marshall. No, no, I do not, for what would 
be the use? We would only puzzle our poor 
brains all the more and make nothing by it. We 
know nothing unless we are in the ring, to devise, 
and since I am not in the ring, I am only like a 
child depending upon a father, The unknown 

70 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

will happen in due course of time. We mortals 
are too fallible to judge the course of events in 
this world which are sure to come from the in- 
fallible. Therefore, boys, I say do not worry 
yourselves over events unless you are in the ring, 
to temporarily control that which you wish done, 
but don't worry or think too much about events 
or panics. Be honest. Give your fellow being 
fair treatment and take care of yourselves. Leave 
events and panics to that which governs us 
all and you will live longer and have a happier 
life. Now good-bye, boys, and good luck to you. 
(And Mr. Marshall busies himself with 
his life-long friend, Mr. Janeway^ and 
soon gains the door which leads through a 
corridor to the carriage entrance of the 
Janeway mansion.) 
(At this stage Harry Broavn enters the 
room hurriedly and says:) 
Gentlemen, will you not come in and join 
us at supper? The doors are open and we 
would like to have you and your partners in 
early, so that you will have plenty of time with- 
out being hurried. 

(The men start for their lady friends j who 
are in the hall room, waiting to he taken 
to supper. Soon the room is cleared. 
Harry Brown returns again in great 
ecccitement with Harry Dodge, who 
seems almost wild with excitement^ 

71 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

Brown tries hard to calm him, but it 
seems of little use. Dodge seems uncon- 
controllable and appears to be in such a 
rage as he moves about the room that he 
is well nigh inhuman, and seems like a 
ferocious beast. Brown pleads with him 
as to the time and place for such a scene, 
but of no avail; in appearance and in ac- 
tion Dodge seems more insane than sane. 
His rage is of such intensity that he is 
impervious to all entreaties, and finally 
he roars to Brown:) 
If you are a friend of mine, you will do as I 
bid you in this matter. Go to him, go to that 
dog at once and command him to come to me 
here, here in this room and at once, and if he 
refuses, then shoot him — shoot him as you would 
a dog and send his worthless life out of this world 
without further parley over the matter. The 
man who has proven himself to be such a cur 
would be better out of existence, both for the 
good of mankind and himself. {And now as he 
proceeds he is ashen-like in color. He quivers 
from head to foot with rage; he commands 
Brown, at the penalty of the sacrifice of his 
friendship, to go at 07ice and bring the culprit 
before him.) 

(Brown hesitates and wrings his ha7ids in 
despair as he wonders how he can best 
avert the catastrophe of possibly one or 
72 



The Trend [ act n ] 

more men's lives being taken at his 
friend's home^ and the following ecvcite- 
ment and sensation that would be sure to 
follow such a scandal,) 
(He turns once more to Dodge to plead j 
but is spurned with contempt in face and 
speech. The next moment he goes to 
meet the man who is the cause of Dodgers 
agitation, and is in the ball room, prepar- 
ing to go to supper. Within a moment 
or two Brown appears again with Jack 
Raleigh^ who is sullen, cool and deter- 
mined in appearance, but with evident 
supjyressed excitement. Dodge and Ra- 
leigh face each other in the center of the 
room. Brown stands near Dodge^ and 
one of Raleigh^s friends stands close by 
him, who has just followed into the room. 
Dodge approaches Raleigh^ who is now 
cool and steady with drawn nerves, which 
make them intense and more quiet for 
the moment.) 
(The men stand and gaze at each other for 
a time, and then Raleigh^ with cool man- 

■ ner and words, says:) 

I have come, in compliance with your friend's 

appeal, to meet you here. Do you wish to 

see me? 

(Dodgers passion rises again at the first 
word and he hardly waits for the sen- 

73 



[act II] The Trend 

fence uttered by Raleigh to be finished 
before he flies at him like a lioness would 
at one who was attacking her offspring, 
and says:) 
I wish to know if you are the author of the 

words I have heard and given to me at your 

credit? 

(And then, without waiting for a word in 
answer, he hurries on and repeats:) 
I understand that you have said to-night that 
my presence was a bore and an embarrassment 
to polite society. You say that I am ignorant 
and stupid, and step on ladies' gowns in the ball 
room, and that my grammar and speech is so 
gross that it grates upon a polished man's ears; 
and further, that I am so ignorant of all the 
requisites in polished society, due to my unculti- 
vated condition, that my presence is a detriment 
to refined gatherings. 

{And then, without a word from Raleigh, 
he flies at him and says:) 
Are you responsible for such utterances com- 
ing to me? 

{He waits a moment for Raleigh^s reply. 
Raleigh now white with excitement, but 
never otherwise showing a sign of disturb- 
ance, so well balanced is his control. He 
hesitates again, and then calmly says:) 
Do you not think this a rather unusual time 
for such demand as this? 

74 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

Dodge. No, no — {he fairly screams) — No, 
no; no time or place is unsuitable for the denial 
or acknowledgment of such a fiendish or devilish 
outrage upon a human being. Answer, or I will 
squeeze the very existence out of your miserable 
life. (Makes motion to grip Raleigh^s throat. 
The men's friends interfere.) 

(Dodge desists for a moment ^ then advanc- 
ing again, cries out with vehemence:) 
Answer! Do not keep this suspense over me 
longer. Ai^e you responsible for such uncalled 
for and unmanly deviltry? Answer! 

{For the first time Raleigh^s voice quivers 
perceptibly as he says:) 
Why {now with calmness), I would rather re- 
serve this meeting for some other place and an- 
other time, but if you press me, why then I sup- 
pose I will have to acquiesce. 
Dodge. Answer ! 

Raleigh. I did not say all you have attrib- 
uted to me, but I did say that such a person is an 
objectionable quantity and an intolerable nuis- 
ance to polished society, and should be made to 
remain in their own sphere or rank. 

{Before Raleigh has finished his last word. 

Dodge removes his right hand glove and 

gives Raleigh a resounding blow with his 

ungloved hand upon his face, and adds:) 

You scoundrel, you vagabond, take that for 

your empty life and your empty words. 

75 



[ ACT II ] The Trend 

(In an instant Raleigh places his hand on 
his hip pocket, and half di^aws from it a 
glittering revolver; hut before he can do 
more, his friend holds his hand tightly and 
he can move the revolver no further. In 
another instant he places the revolver hack 
in his pocket, and says audihly, as he gains 
his equilihrium :) 
Heavens, heavens ! I almost defeated my own 
purpose. This is the first time of my life. 

(Dodge stands glaring at Raleigh^ and or- 
ders him, in the name of his friend and 
partner, Mr. Janeway^ and on pain of a 
further humiliation from his own hands, 
to leave the house at once.) 
(Raleigh hesitates. His friend counsels 
him to leave without further delay, which 
he starts to do. Just as he gains the door 
he turns, faces Dodge^ and says in calm 
and determined voice, mingled with con- 
tempt and sarcasm:) 
Mr. Dodge^ this matter has been opened, but 
it is not yet closed. You will hear from me 
again ; not, howxver, in a way you have started it. 
You are contemptible and beneath my notice. 
Too much so for a physical encounter, but re- 
member, remember — when you recognize my 
hand again there w411 be no quarter given. Re- 
member this — remember! [And he slams the 
door in Dodger's face.) 

76 



The Trend [ act ii ] 

{As Raleigh leaves, Mr. Janeway comes 

fairly running into the room and says, 

excitedly :) 

Can there be any disturbance at all? What 

does this mean, gentlemen? Someone has heard 

very loud and angry words within these walls. 

Can there be any disturbance at all? 

(Dodge calms himself at once, stands close 
to Mr. Janeway and says:) 
Ah, sir, there is nothing — nothing at all the 
matter. Someone must have misinformed you. 
{As he says this, Katherine Janeway 
comes hurriedly into the room, and white 
from eoocitement, cries out:) 
Father, father, is there any truth in the re- 
port? Is there anything wrong? 

Mr. Janeway. No, no, my child; all is well. 
{Then lightly:) 

I suppose it rose from the imagination of some 
sentimental or sensational person. Nothing at 
all; all is as quiet as can be. I have only found 
Harry and Brown^ talking quietly over some 
business proposition, or project, as they are wont 
to do when alone. 

{A bevy of young ladies and gentlemen 
enter the room, fantastically dancing to 
the music from, the hall room. ISIrs. 
Westerbury halts the dancers in military 
style, and then taking position in front of 
77 



[ ACT 11 ] The Teend 

Mr. Janeway and Katherine^ as Dodge 
and Brown stand on either side, says in 
a very charming voice:) 

I and my company have come, sir {addressing 
her words to Mr. Janeway), as a detail ordered 
by a large majority of guests to go and seek 
their host and hostess, and bring them to their 
honored positions in the grand march to the din- 
ing hall for supper. 

{Now all is merry and they laugh heartily. 
The music begins. Mrs. Westerbury 
takes the arm of old Mr. Janeway. Fol- 
lowing their lead are Mrs. Fletcher and 
Brown^ and after them goes Katherine 
upon the arm of Dodge^ while the others 
follow merrily and triumphantly after- 
ward, ) 



78 



ACT III. 



ACT III. 

SCENE I. 

(Jack Raleigh seated in a well appoint- 
ed office on the top floor of a corpo- 
ration building in lower Broadway, at 
eight o'clock in the morning, and three 
months later than the second act. He is 
in a large, comfortable looking leather 
covered revolving armchair, before a spa- 
cious table desk of fine and heavy ma- 
terial in the center of the room, which is 
handsomely furnished, as the President's 
office of a large corporation. He is first 
seen asleep, with head on arms, which are 
resting on the desk in front of him.) 
{He stirs, then a telephone bell rings. This 
arouses him. Finally he gets up from his 
seat, walks over to the mantel, over the 
fire grate. He is in a reflective and 
thoughtful mood, and looks very pale and 
worn. After looking into blank space for 
a while he says, with much seriousness 
and dejection:) 
What a sacrifice we have to make for the little 
satisfaction gained in this race of life. (Pause 

81 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

for several moments,) For three nights I have 
been unable to sleep. I lay in bed and try in 
every conceivable way to doze, but I have heard 
those wonderful chimes of the Cathedral every 
quarter, every half, three-quarters and hour, 
strike. Ah, no one knows what untold misery 
this is unless they have suffered as I have. This 
morning at three o*clock I could stand the strain 
no longer. I got up from bed, dressed and 
walked the streets, until I found myself in this 
office again at six-thirty, and have only succeeded 
in gaining a drowsy or semi-conscious state dur- 
ing the last half hour. (Sighs and i^e fleets,) 
After all, what is life in this world? Is it really 
worth all we suffer to retain our hold upon exist- 
ence? I am a disappointed man; when a lad, 
coddled by indulgent and well-to-do parents, the 
world looked very beautiful and encouraging, 
and this is the real happiness of life. Then 
later to school, to be instructed to conquer all 
conditions of strife and perplexing situations 
with philosophy, thus tending to obliterate all 
that obligation to our Maker, and to religion, 
that was so tenderly and rigorouslj^ imbedded in 
my young mind by a patient and loving mother, 
and a good and faithful rector of our church; 
finally to college, with more advanced study and 
the lectures of the wise professors, who gave us 
some room for doubt in God and His works, with 
their science of Nature, their chemistry, their 

82 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

astronomy, and finally those all absorbing sub- 
jects of moral philosophy and of higher science 
which they thought should preserve a man so well 
all through this life and emancipate him from all 
difficulties that w^ould come in due course of 
time, and then a long course of poetry to offset 
the prose of life and vice versa. Ah, which is 
right — that is the question for matured manhood 
to determine. Is it the simple teaching of God 
and His works from a loving mother's heart, or 
the more matured and cultivated contentions of 
the men of learning in the lecture rooms and the 
seats of advanced education? Yes, this is the 
question. (Sighs deeply.) Ah, yes — yes; too 
late, too late for me now. I have been a spoiled 
child, a too much educated student in the grand 
concourse of learning and study, I fear. I have 
experienced and possessed all that is attractive 
to the observing ones of this world. I have trav- 
ersed all lands and seen all peoples; have been 
indulged in money for my every desire, and now 
there is nothing left in life for me. Everything 
seems contemptible from familiarity. There is 
not one thing I have desired which I have not ob- 
tained or conquered. Yes, this is true — this is 
true. (Then suddenly arousing himself, he feel- 
ingly says:) Ah, yes, yes — there is one more 
thing, there is one thing that I have failed in ob- 
taining, and that was the life and love of my 
fiancee, which was so ruthlessly taken from me 

83 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

three years ago. How horrible, how cruel, and 
what a beautiful and noble woman she was! 
(Pauses a moment.) Ah, yes, but what a coinci- 
dence, this meeting of Katherine. The minis- 
ters would call it the work of God; the philoso- 
phers would say, only a coincidence, or the work 
of the laws of gravitation ; a mere circumstance in 
the course of events. The mystic or the super- 
stitious would say it is the work of some good 
angel, your good luck, or that it comes from your 
guiding star. {Now laughing hysterically.) 
But I would say — yes, I would say, I know not 
whence it comes. A man like myself, and with 
such an education as I have received, and observ- 
ing life from all sides, can only depend on what 
he sees with his eyes, and cannot trust the future 
or give credit to the past, or trust to any laws or 
direction for what takes place, and after research- 
ing all that is claimed by those who are supposed 
to know, I find that we know nothing at all; 
therefore my maxim must be, take care of your- 
self and leave all else to that something with infi- 
nite knowledge, and which is supposed to guide 
the world. If we are not endowed with infalli- 
bility, then surely we are not accountable for in- 
fallible deeds or creations. {Now more sternly 
and decidedly:) But I must take advantage of 
all the features of life with which I am endowed, 
and leave the rest for solution by the infallible. 
{Pause. More engrossed:) I love Katherine 

84 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

Janeway — yes, even more than I ever did that 
soul which was taken from me on that eventful 
afternoon near Katherine^s home. I love 
Katherine Janeway; she has been placed in 
my way by some unknown law or direction, and 
it is now my solemn duty and purpose to place 
her in that position for which she is evidently in- 
tended, that of redeeming Jack Raleigh and 
making a man of him in the end. (More desper- 
ately:) And at any cost — yes, at any cost, even to 
the last dollar I possess, or the last drop of 
blood that courses through my degraded body, 
which is now without a soul. Yes, this is all that 
is left for me. There is yet one glimmer of light 
in all the darkness before me, and this little flicker 
is the love I possess for that one fair creature; 
she may save me — she may make me. It is still 
within the power of this one little creature in the 
world to either save me and give me life, or to 
deliver me to desperation and even destruction. 
Ah, yes, yes — this is so. {A few minutes later.) 
And now it is time to take up the thread of this 
devilish business of destruction of others. The 
price is high, but the penalty is higher. I do not 
know about the future after this life ; all that has 
been ground out of me. But I do know that 
while I exist there is only one thing left for me 
and my happiness, and that is to gain that fair 
hand and heart and love of the fair little maiden 
that means so much to me. (He now walks fast 

85 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

and furious, and engages himself about the 
office,) 

{Takes out his watch; it is just 8.30 in the 
7norning. He sets an electric signal for 
his confidential employees to enter, and 
the next moment Jack Raleigh is deter- 
mined upon the annihilation of all things 
between himself and Katherine Jane- 
way^ even if it means the taking of the 
life of a human being, ) 
{There is a knock at the door. Secretary 
Williams^ of the Allied Companies of 
steel, oil, gas and matches, and many other 
interests, is admitted to the presence of 
President Raleigh.) 
(Williams^ cool and calculating, stands by 
Raleigh^s desk. He is servile-looking, 
and his features denote a lack of spirit and 
strength; in his hand he holds a large 
number of papers; at his side stands his 
stenographer; both wait. Raleigh final- 
ly speaks, and dismisses the latter from his 
presence, and with much excitement in his 
voice, he earnestly asks Williams how 
domestic matters are progressing. Wil- 
liams replies, showing humble respect:) 
Quite satisfactorily, sir, I am sure. We have 
cut prices very low, and results are already at 
hand. We are making inroads into the ranks of 
the National Match Company. We may have 

86 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

to cut again, and even still lower to turn the full 
tide of trade in our direction; at least, to an ex- 
tent that will be satisfactory for the purpose of 
our present move. 

Raleigh {deeply interested, becomes excited) . 
Move with all haste to that end. Reduce prices ; 
put on more force, offer all inducements consist- 
ent with apparent moderation, and sway the 
match trade of this country into our hands as 
decidedly and as speedily as possible, without 
becoming sensational in the Street, or in the cir- 
cles of mercantile trade. 

(Raleigh slams his fist upon his desk and 
says with emphasis:) 

We must let this matter go no further for 
many good reasons, and our opponent must be 
brought to terms at once. Spare no expense, 
spare no judicious expedient at any hazard. 
Make this report to your department agents, and 
order them to use all their forces, and to wrest 
our trade back from the National Match Com- 
pany at any expense. Do this immediately. 
Communicate with them by wire; put our whole 
force in the field; reduce our enemies, and once 
more regain our position as Dictators of the 
Match Industry. 

Williams. But, sir, do you mean to spare no 
expense, either in cost or in reduction in prices? 

Raleigh (furiously). I do, and I repeat it. 
Spare no time, no expense, nor consideration 

87 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

whatsoever, except sensational methods, but gain 
that position we once held, as Dictators of the 
Match Trade. 

(Williams bows loWj leaves the office j and 
as the stock indicator begins to print the 
first message of the morning from Wall 
Street, Raleigh leaps to it,) 
Raleigh. Ah, as I calculated, the Street is 
becoming nervous over their holdings in National 
Match stock. (Then reads from the tape.) 
National Match has become quite erratic, and 
sold down five points at close yesterday, due to 
reports that the Company is having some trouble 
financially, and owing to rumors afloat of strife 
between the Company and the opposing concern 
of the Allied Companies which are affiliated with 
the National Oil Company. (Now excitedly , to 
himself:) The time has arrived for concert action 
and a final blow, I believe. The Street has become 
nervous, brought about by a reduction in prices 
for our goods and the loss of sales by our oppo- 
nent. Yes, now is the time for a decisive blow, 
and I must deal it to-day. (Rings a bell, sends 
for Williams^ says:) Give further orders to 
drop prices lower than ever. (Then:) Please 
give me reports of our foreign trade. 

Williams. We have taken possession of the 
foreign trade, and the National Match Company 
has had a great falling off in business in the for- 
eign markets. 

88 



The Trend [act hi] 

Raleigh {gasping excitedly:) Make a re- 
port; make a report of this at once to Wall Street. 
Also state that our domestic business has returned 
to us greatly with our reduced prices. (Wil- 
liams hesitates a moment j says:) 

Sir, did you say make another great cut in 
prices ? 

Raleigh {yells). Yes, yes. And why not? 
Why not? Why do you speak thus? 

Williams. I was only thinking of our semi- 
annual report of expenses and of profits. 

Raleigh. When is this report to be made? 

Williams. Within thirty days, sir. 

Raleigh. Good enough; in thirty days we 
will have our enemies at our feet, our business 
fully recovered, and enjoying more prosperity 
and better prices and profits for oui' matches than 
ever before. Do not think of this semi-annual 
report at all for the present. 

{Now a cynical smile about Raleigh^s 
mouth appears in derision,) 

Raleigh. Yes, yes, to-day; yes, to-day our 
opponent will be reduced and in our hands for 
our dictation. They have held out for a time, 
but to-night — to-night I will have their whole 
business within my hand's grasp. {He looked 
the deathly look of triumph of the expectant con- 
queror, as he thought of all that would he his re- 
ward, by the destruction of others who would be 
in his way, ) 

89 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

(Williams leaves him at once, Raleigh 
goes to the tape again as the ticker begins 
its work for the day,) 

{He sneers) Oh, oh! (and reads:) National 
Match has opened weak, and has fallen five 
points already. 

Raleigh. I will now wait a moment and see 
if it has any strength for recovery, and watch the 
effects of our report that Williams will make 
to the Street at once. (Takes his seat. Secre- 
tary Short enters,) 

Raleigh. Well, Mr. Short^ what have you 
to report about our personnel this morning? 

Short. We have one man, sir, whom I have 
feared for some time upon our rolls, a college 
man, studied law and failed; entered our employ- 
ment about three years ago, has a splendid record 
for tact, displays a wonderful power for convinc- 
ing and controlling our customers, and seems to 
have them thoroughly under his jurisdiction; has 
been trusted with some confidential matters. He 
has applied for an increase in salary, but his re- 
turns scarcely justify an increase at this time. 

Raleigh (thinks a moment ^ and then quietly:) 
I think you said that you had some reason for 
fear in regard to this man. For what reason? 

Short. He has scruples, sir; I am sure he 
has a mind of his own, and a conscience ; has set 
ideas on morals regarding others in the world; 
in a word, he has explained himself on one occa- 

90 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

sion when he said *he likes to see the under dog 
have a chance.' This is the key to his character 
and his conscience. 

Raleigh {thoughtfully). You fear him, 
then? 

Short. Yes, sir, I fear him for the reasons 
stated. 

Raleigh. Has he been honest? 

Short. Honesty itself, sir. Upright to a 
degree, and thoroughly reliable, and has devel- 
oped into a most capable man. 

Raleigh. Try him further; raise his salary; 
watch him closely; give him no further confiden- 
tial work; find out his color, and if he has too 
deep a one for us and cannot be shaded, or if he 
is too strongly developed in character and con- 
scientiousness for our work, give him rope and 
plenty of it, and he will possibly tie himself up 
eventually into a tangle from his own inventions. 
We will then have him within our grasp. If this 
does not work satisfactorily and he still has scru- 
ples about honesty and giving the under dog a 
chance, then find some pretext and discharge 
him; lower him easily, for fear he might become 
rebellious, and this, you know, would not do, es- 
pecially as he has been in our confidence. 

Short. Very well, sir, very well. 

Raleigh. Now what others have you to 
speak of to-day, Mr. Short? 

Short. All else seems well, sir. 

91 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

Raleigh. Very well. 
Short. Good morning, sir. 
Raleigh. Good morning, Mr. Short. 
(Raleigh^ with apparent relief j jumps up 
to the indicator^ puts his hand to his head 
as though dreaming,) 
By heaven, by heaven, it has done more than 
I expected. The whole market is becoming 
wild and almost panicky. National Match in 
large blocks and selling ten and fifteen points 
below the opening, and other stocks are tumbling 
in sympathy. My, my, the time has arrived. 
{Steps to his desk and rings bell hurriedly. 
Personal secretary enters,) 
Raleigh. Go and find Judge Marks and 
bring him to this office. Hurry with all pos- 
sible dispatch in my automobile. Find him at 
all hazards, and tell Judge Marks that the mat- 
ter is most urgent, and that he should endeavor 
to come at once. 

(As the secretary leaves the room another 
employee enters and hands Raleigh a 
card J saying:) 
Sir, the gentleman says that he must see you; 
the matter is important, and a personal inter- 
view must be effected at once. 

Raleigh {reads card, and cries out in dis- 
may:) Uncle Billy Marshall^ Uncle Billy 
Marshall! Heavens, what brings him here at 
such a time? {Then quietly and knowingly to 

92 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

himself:) I must see him; it will never do to 
refuse. ( To the employee, as he straightens him- 
self up for an ordeal:) Show Mr. Marshall in 
at once. (Raleigh now brings all his reserve 
strength and agility to his command, preparatory 
to acting his part as well and as innocently as 
possible. Uncle Billy Marshall enters the 
office quietly.) 

Marshall. How do you do, how^ do you do, 
Jack, my boy? How are you? 

Raleigh {rises and cautiously offers Uncle 
Billy a chair opposite to him at his desk). Well, 
well, Uncle Billy, this is a surprise. The first 
time you have honored me thus during our very 
pleasant and long acquaintance. 

Marshall. Ali, yes, yes, my boy, very un- 
usual, I assure you, especially at this time of the 
day; quite informal to call at such an hour; but — 
but — the matter which I wish to see you about is 
consistent with the exigencies of the case. 

Raleigh {acting surprised). Uncle Billy, 
what can it be? What is it I can do for you? 

Marshall. Well, Jack, to be plain and brief, 
I have come to ask you to let up on our poor boy, 
Dodge. The poor fellow is nearly dead. Not, 
however, do I come with his bidding, or even con- 
sent, or knowledge. But, you know, just to do a 
friendly act for a friend. 

Raleigh {very surprised, looks innocent). 
Uncle Billy, you have an advantage over me; 

93 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

you puzzle me. (Now looking somewhat scorn- 
ful , but fails to disguise himself longer. ) What 
is it I can do to relieve your friend Dodge? 

Marshall. Well, Jack, the whole Street is 
aware and full of the knowledge that you are 
driving the poor young fellow to a death strug- 
gle. I come as a last resort. He and my old 
friend, Janeway^ are at the end of the rope, and 
are only struggling to hold on. 

Raleigh (carelessly). Uncle Bill\% you 
and the Street are mistaking matters. I have 
no knowledge of what you say. If it appears 
to the Street that I am driving any one to the 
wall, it is without my knowledge. (Pause for 
a moment.) But I shall see if such is the case, 
it may be done in the course of business transac- 
tion in this office, but without my knowledge. 
You know lots of things are done in the interest 
of many of my concerns of which I am innocent, 
and without my knowledge. 

Marshall (now vexed at the seemingly de- 
ceitful pretense of innocence, with firm voice:) 
Jack, Jack, what honor, or what lack of honor, 
seems to direct these large business concerns of 
this day? How can a man of your education 
and, I presume, refinement, stoop to such das- 
tardly and contemptible means of management? 
Even though it gives you power and good re- 
turns in a monetary way? You people assume 

94 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

too much, too much altogether, over a sovereign 
people. You are piratical — yes, piratical in its 
worst form. The pirates of old gave a chance 
to their prey, a chance to defend himself when in 
their hands. You do not. You steal upon him 
quietly and without observation with your un- 
derhanded system and stab him in the back, rob 
him, take his belongings and claim your inno- 
cence and immunity, because the poor victims can 
prove nothing openly in the courts. Due to the 
corrupt condition you have established through 
money in that body, which should be next to 
holiness, and beyond the reach of all worldly 
things, when honor and justice are involved. 

Raleigh {very pale and much worked up in 
demeanor under the volley of scorching words, 
yet quietly) . Uncle Billy^ you evidently have 
been reading sensational journalism, which in 
reality has little foundation. 

Marshall. Jack, Jack, do not talk to me in 
this way. You poor fellow, you are a victim of 
the money craze. I dare say you would have 
been a decent and good fellow under such a code 
of honor as was practiced in my young days, 
which would give a man, especially one who 
needed it, a chance or a helping hand, and help 
to raise him when he was down, and never give a 
blow to one who was off his feet and at your 
mercy. 

Raleigh. But, Uncle Billy, I do not un- 

95 



[ ACT ni ] The Trend 

derstand your errand, I am innocent of your 
attack. 

Marshall (now looking squarely and directly 
at Raleigh). Jack, Jack, do you say this with 
all the honor that is left in you, and with all the 
pride of manhood that is yet yours? If you do, 
I will say no more, and leave you without fur- 
ther parley. 

Raleigh (confused j and losing some of his 
calmness). Uncle Billy, I will look into the 
matter at once, and if my office is doing as you 
claim, I will see that it is stopped, providing 
there is no real commercial reason or cause for 
such an attack as you claim we are making. 

Marshall (contemptuously). Ah, yes, yes, 
Jack; you speak as all persons do who try to 
evade. 

Raleigh. But, Uncle Billy^ you forget my 
responsibilities. I am responsible to millions of 
people. I am responsible to widows and or- 
phans for their bread and butter; their very ex- 
istence depends on my office and the discharge of 
my whole duty ; my stockholders hold me respon- 
sible for a faithful accounting of good earnings 
and returns for money invested into my hands. 

Marshall. Yes, yes, but think of the shame- 
less methods that your large concerns resort to, 
to gain these returns of which you speak; the 
crushing of life out of the young, the crushing of 

96 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

morals out of the whole civilized world, and for 
what reason, what good is derived from such a 
sacrifice of morals to the world? What chance 
does a young man in your employ have to become 
honest and ambitious? None. He is taught 
from his beginning with you, by you and the 
damnable men around you, to lie and to take ad- 
vantage of all whom he comes in contact w4th, 
without restraint or restriction, except for your 
own personal interests ; first by gaining the confi- 
dence of the people at large, then their money — 
and giving in return as small value as possible; 
then you add injury to this dreadful deception by 
giving the ignorant, the too faithful, and the too 
credulous short measures and weights, and then 
render them excessive or incorrect bills for more 
than they bargained to pay. Robbery — robbery, 
pure and simple, and all this is done so that you 
can gain these good returns of which you speak 
for your dividends. {Short pause.) Who can 
compete with you? No one. You lower your 
prices to ruin competition, and then w^hen you 
have ruined competition, you raise j^our prices 
again and get back all that you have lost, and 
then you make the people pay dearly for all 
they get. Do you think this good teaching of 
morals for the young men in your employ? No, 
your heartless system makes thieves of them and 
ruins their ambition to become good and honor- 
able men. 

97 



[ ACT in ] The Trend 

Raleigh. Uncle Billy^ these questions are 
too much to be answered off hand, but I must say- 
that the larger a concern, the more economy there 
is for our people and the world at large by the 
lowering of expenses of operation and the public 
receive the benefit in the way of cheap prices. 

Marshall. Now, Jack, what good does this 
economy do when you make thieves of the young? 
What will the next generation be, and the fol- 
lowing ones? Your system is the direct cause of 
discontent, besides a curse to the community. It 
generates highwaymen's attacks, the murderous 
robberies of the day, the bank thieves and other 
thefts in this country. The plain people of to- 
day are too well informed and educated to silent- 
ly stand by and let you rob them repeatedly, 
without retaliation in some form, even though 
foul it may appear. Jack, Jack, my boy, your 
system is wrong, and it will only ruin itself in 
time. You cut your men's wages to the lowest 
notch and you raise your prices to the highest; 
therefore it will only be a matter of time when 
the people will be exhausted from the lack of 
means to purchase your products, and then a 
catastrophe will be at hand as your reward ; then 
there will be a settling of differences on a more 
equitable basis, the world will go on as before, 
serenely as ever, imtil another snag in the evolu- 
tion of events is reached, and then history will 
repeat itself once more. Enough of this at this 

98 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

time; I will leave you in the hands of your pro- 
tector. You plead ignorance; well, if you are 
ignorant or innocent, you will be rewarded. Jack ; 
but if you are guilty, then you will surely pay the 
penalty in some way, as surely as the sun rises 
and sets; as honesty and the sun are governed 
by the same laws, and are beyond the power of 
man to deter. {Shakes hands with Raleigh.) 
Good-bye, Jack, good-bye, and good luck to you, 
my boy. {Leaves the office,) 

(Raleigh^ very white and terrified, seems 
to totter under the strain. He rings a 
hell and asks an employee to order some 
stimulant for him. He turns a few pa- 
pers over his desk, signs his name to some 
of them with a trembling hand, rings a 
bellj calls for Williams and asks him if 
Judge Marks has yet been heard from. 
Instant later Judge Marks arrives. 
Raleigh again brings all his reserve 
strength to his command, takes the prof- 
fered draught. Judge Marks enters the 
office,) 
Raleigh {light and airily) , Good morning, 
Judge, good morning; take a seat, sir. {With 
a wave of his hand all employees leave the office, ) 
Raleigh. Judge, I am very much concerned 
and anxious about the injunction proceedings al- 
ready in your hands regarding the National 
Match Company. 

99 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

Marks. Yes — yes; well, sir, proceed. 

Raleigh. Judge, how soon could we have a 
decision? 

Marks. What is the time now? 

Raleigh. Just twelve-five, sir. 

Marks. Well, I will have to go to luncheon; 
that will take an hour. I open court again at 
one-thirty ; by two-thirty a decision could be ren- 
dered. 

Raleigh {xmth glee). Good, good! Just 
the time; it seems as though Providence is 
with me in this case. Well, Judge, what do you 
think of the merits ? 

Marks. Well, a match is a match, and I be- 
lieve the greater portion of both matches in this 
case is wood. 

Raleigh. Quite so, quite so ; all wood, except 
the little head. 

Marks. And what about the head? 

Raleigh. One is lighted by friction on some 
hard surface, and the other by blowing the breath 
upon it — some secret composition which the hu- 
man breath ignites from a certain acid affinity. 

Marks. Very well; have you anything that 
you claim is near or within range of this peculiar 
head of the match of the opponents? 

Raleigh. Yes, sir; we have had our Egyp- 
tian agent send us a formula for just such a 
match that was unearthed in Egypt, and which 
was used, in all probability, thousands of years 

100 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

ago by the Egyptians; therefore the match is 
nothing new. 

Marks. Hand me over the papers, please. 
(Raleigh rings hell, has paioers brought 
in and places them in Judge ISIarks^s 
hand. ) 
Raleigh. Judge, that is a beautiful place 
you have up there in Connecticut, your country 
seat. 

Marks. Yes, it is; but I shall have to have 
more money for its completion. 

Raleigh. How much more, Judge, would 
you need? 

Marks. Well, probably forty thousand dol- 
lars would suffice for a while. 

Raleigh. Can I not be of use to you. Judge, 
and loan it to you ? 

Marks. Yes, yes; I intended to ask you to 
help me out in this little affair of mine. Can you 
spare it? 

Raleigh. Yes, yes, certainly. 

(Rings bell; soon hands Judge Marks a 
roll of greenbacks, saying:) 
Will this be sufficient? 

Marks. Oh, yes, yes; it will do to carry on 
improvements for a time, or for a month or two, 
or at least (laughingly) until you get your de- 
cision after this injunction to uphold your con- 
tentions of infringement by the Xational Match 

101 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

Company, and finally get your restraining order 
permanently. 

(Judge Marks rises from his seat to leave ^ 
the men mockingly joking with each other 
over some trifling incident of the day, and 
then speak of the weather, and as Judge 
Marks is gaining the door both he and 
Raleigh appear to have worked them- 
selves into some form of levity, but which 
is purely affected. Marks comes back to 
Raleigh^s desk and says:) 
Oh, I had forgotten ; I intended to tell you the 
latest story out my way. 

Raleigh. Do, do. Judge (affecting a great 
deal of pleasure and anticipation and self-con- 
trol). 

Marks. We were on our way home the other 
afternoon on a local, while just in front of us sat 
an old man, apparently a farmer, and not used to 
affected city manners or ways. The conductor 
came through collecting tickets. When he ap- 
proached the old man said, as the train was 
nearing a station, * Conductor, is this Water- 
ville?' The conductor replied, *No, sir, this is 
not Waterville.' Pretty soon the conductor 
came through the car again as the train was near- 
ing another station. The old man, with intensi- 
fied interest, said to the conductor again, as he 
passed hurriedly, * Conductor, is this Waterville?' 
The conductor told him that he was not at Water^ 

102 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

ville. Pretty soon the train stopped again. The 
old farmer once more caught hold of the con- 
ductor's sleeve as he attempted to pass in a hurry, 
and inquired if this was Water ville. The con- 
ductor, with some impatience this time, told the 
old man it was not Waterville. Soon the train 
stopped again, and just as the conductor was 
most busy at the end of the car, where the passen- 
gers were getting ready to leave the train, the old 
man made a bolt towards that end of the car, 
caught hold of the conductor's sleeve, and in a 
most inquiring and serious way said, * Conductor, 
is this Waterville?' The conductor was now ex- 
asperated bj^ the old man's perseverence, and 
said severely, *My God, no; this is not Water- 
ville ; take your seat, please, and when we get to 
Waterville I will tell you.' The old man took 
his seat again, and wrapped himself in silence 
and contemplation. The train stopped and start- 
ed, and the old man did not move this time. The 
train halted and passengers got off and on, but 
the old man kept his seat in silence and relied on 
the conductor. After a number of stops had 
been made, the conductor was again coming- 
through the car and he espied the old man, where- 
upon the conductor became at once conspicuously 
confused. He pulled out his watch, looked at 
it, thought a moment, grabbed the bell cord and 
directed the engineer to back his train. He 
backed three miles to Waterville. The conduc- 

103 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

tor fairly flew at the old man to hurry him out of 
the train as it stopped, and as he took hold of the 
old man's shoulders to help him out, he cried: 
'Here you are, sir; here we are, old man, at 
Waterville; hurry, please hurry.' The far- 
mer looked somewhat surprised at first, and then 
coolly and calmly said to the conductor, 'All, is 
this Waterville? Ah, thank you; thank you. 
My doctor told me to take a pill when I got to 
Waterville,' 

Ha, ha, ha! (Both Raleigh and Marks 
mockingly laughed. Then Raleigh cries:) 
Good, Judge, good; you are the best story teller 
I ever heard. 

(Judge Marks leaves the office of the great 
corporation. Raleigh leaps to the ticker 
again, and cries as a lion would with de- 
light that is craving and almost has its 
prey in its gi^asp:) 
Oh, oh, it is here, almost here; revenge is 
sweet, and the sweeter when it is so thorough in 
its completion. That scoundrel, I told him he 
would feel me; I am sure he does now. I prom- 
ised no quarter then, and I will give none to that 
ignorant fool. The impertinence, the assurance 
of such an ass, to try and insult me in the face of 
a great company, and at such a time. {Now 
more calmly and reflectively, hut severely:) 
Well, well, it is severe, but it is no more than is 
due that young niiRan, and the fool that he is, a 

104 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

good lesson for him for the future ; he will, after 
this, possibly try to control himself better, and 
treat his superiors with more deference; a good 
lesson, I am sure, and in the end will prove a 
benefit to society and the man for whom it is in- 
tended. {Again he takes up the tape, crying:) 
Heavens, see how the market is tumbling! 
See how it falls without support ; why, our power 
is growing more and more daily. The whole 
Street seems afraid of our very breath when we 
make a report. What, National IMatch now 
only forty-five? A drop of thirty points only 
since yesterday. All, well, we will have to take 
care of our friends and advise them to purchase 
again after this day, of all others, has fulfilled 
our purpose. {Hurriedly and eoccitedly calls 
for a messenger. ) I'll send orders to sell stocks 
right and left, and especially National Match, 
for the rest of the day to my brokers, and tell 
them not to allow the market to regain itself at 
least for the rest of the day, but to hammer and 
bear it to the utmost up to the closing hour. 
{Raises his head and places his hands about it,) 
A deadly coup, but it must be so; the stakes are 
high and they justify the means. I cannot live 
without her; the world would be no world at all, 
but a hell to me without Katherixe. And all 
that stands in my way, or between me and her, 
must fall by the wayside. {He almost falls from 
suppressed eoccitement and the strain of the day,) 

105 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

{At that moment and unannounced, Mrs. 

Westerbury comes into the office and 

calls out:) Jack, Jack {as familiarly as 

though she was calling on her husband or 

son. Raleigh rises immediately at the 

first sound of her voice, as though magic 

controls him,) 

Mrs. Westerbury. Why, Jack {as she looks 

at him), you are ill; what can be the trouble? 

You look so weary. 

Raleigh. Oh, nothing, thank you, Mrs. 
Westerbury; only a little tired, I presume. 
Business pressure has been unusually heavy upon 
me of late, and I dare say that I show it in my 
appearance. 

(Mrs. Westerbury goes to him, places her 
hand upon his head, and then drops upon 
her knees at his side, feelingly:) 
Why, my dear boy, you must be careful of 
yourself. You are too good and valuable to us 
all to allow yourself to become incapacitated in 
any one way. Why, Jack, how could we now 
get on without you ! Always so kind and yield- 
ing whenever we are in trouble, or in need of 
your help. 

Raleigh. Ah, Mrs. Westerbury, that is 
nothing; I have done nothing; do not speak of 
it at all. I fear I deserve none of your kind 
words, or am not worthy of your kind consider- 
ation at all. 

106 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

(Mrs. Westerbury rises. Raleigh also 
gets upon his feet and paces the floor im- 
patiently, Mrs. Westerbury goes to 
the other side of the room,) 
Raleigh (finally). Have you any news for 
me to-day? 

Mrs. Westerbury. Jack, I have just left 
her, only a few short moments since. She, the 
poor little child, is looking worn in expression, is 
almost frantic, in fact, and seems to grow closer 
and closer to him in his distress ; her uncultivated 
girlish instincts respond to him all the more in 
his trials and troubles. She seems as if she would 
give her very life for his relief ; but, alas, she can 
do nothing; her hands are tied. Dodge^ Mr. 
Janeway and Mr. Marshall^ as well as some 
others of their friends, have given up everything 
— their homes are mortgaged, houses and all 
equipments, such as horses and equipages — they 
are all upon the brink of ruin, their last dollar is 
in the hands of the brokers to help to hold up 
their stock, as they think and argue it will tide 
them over this temporary reaction of the market, 
or an aggressive movement of their opponent in 
the match business. Oh, Jack, I felt so sorry for 
the poor little girl. Her face is white, her once 
beautiful hands and arms have shrunken now 
under the strain — and this is all I can tell you. 
(Jack Raleigh for the first time looks hag- 
gard and serious with sympathy, and hi^ 

107 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

head is bent low, and with eyes toward the 

floor in contemplation; he sighs several 

times and finally moans:) 

Yes, yes, it is now too late ; a desperate game, 

but it must now go on to the end and without 

interruption. 

{Now seemingly again to gain that ag- 
gressiveness and animal-like side of his 
spirit^ he rings his bell again and gives or- 
ders to sell National Match in large 
blocks at any price it can be done, and be- 
comes more active than ever.) 
Raleigh. Mrs. Westerbury, if you will al- 
low me, I will give you some advice for yourself 
and your friends. Sell — sell short the whole 
market, and especially National Match, for the 
rest of the day. To-morrow buy the market and 
go long on the whole list, and if you do not make 
money or get some good returns for your trouble, 
let me know, and I will reimburse you for any 
losses you may have sustained. 

Mrs. Westerbury. Oh, Jack, Jack, you are 
always so kind; how can I ever repay you, es- 
pecially now since I am so much in need of 
money. I have lost heavily of late, and must 
replenish.. 

Raleigh. Well, you noAv have your chance, 
Mrs. Westerbury. 

Mrs. Westerbury. I will go at once, Jack, 
and place some orders with my brokers. But 

108 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

how about luncheon you promised me to-day? 
Will you not accompany me? 

Raleigh. Oh, no, no ; I cannot to-day. Will 
you not excuse me? I have important business 
on hand, and will be here in my office till late 
this evening. 

Mrs. Westerbury. But, Jack, Jack, your 
health will not stand the strain ; do be careful, do ; 
will you not come and dine with me to-night? 

Raleigh. I will see. And many thanks for 
your kind invitation, but it will depend upon cir- 
cumstances. If I am not at your home at eight 
o'clock, in answer to your kind invitation, you 
will know the reason. 

(Now becoming inore impatient, he takes 
up the tape and says audibly:) 

The market responds splendidly to the lash of 
the whip in the hands of Jack Raleigh. 

Mrs. Westerbury {about to leave). Jack, 
have you any money to spare to-day? I wish to 
take advantage of your kind recommendation to 
the fullest extent. 

Raleigh. Certainly, certainly, Mrs. West- 
erbury; how much? 

Mrs. Westerbury. Say five or ten thousand 
till to-morrow, and when I take my profits from 
your suggestion, I will certainly return it. {A 
ripple of humor passes over both faces,) 

Raleigh {significantly). Shall I place this 
on the same account with the other you promised 

109 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

to pay back some months ago, Mrs. Wester- 

BURY? 

Mrs. Westerbury. Oh, Jack, Jack, you are 
really a tease. How can a woman keep her en- 
gagements like you men, who lead and mold 
your own destinies as you choose them, while we 
poor beings have to follow as best we can, both 
as to your wishes or directions. 

(Raleigh has some money brought to him, 

and hands Mrs. Westerbury a big roll 

of greenbacks.) 

Raleigh. Good luck to you and to your 

friends. (And he ushers her out of the office,) 



110 



SCENE II. 

{Office of BrowNj Marshall and Com- 
pany^ Wall Street. Harry Dodge at 
indicator, clerks at different openings at 
the counter attending to customers. 
Dodge deathly pale and nervous. He 
reads aloud:) 

National Match, forty — a drop of sixty points. 
Heavens, what shall we do? All is gone now, I 
am afraid. Everything is mortgaged — the last 
thing, including pianos and jewelry have been 
pledged, and still a few thousands more might 
save us till to-morrow, when the market must 
reach the bottom. What shall we do? Some- 
thing must be done for a few thousands more to 
hold off our creditors till morning, and then I 
am sure the market will have commenced its re- 
action. There is no foundation for this terrible 
break in our stock and the market generally, and 
they cannot carry it down much longer on lies — 
yes, real lies and mere misrepresentations. But 
how, but how {wrings his hands and seems to 
totter as he thinks a minute; one of the clerks says 
to a messenger. Yes, the other stock will take to- 
morrow, just hold it till the morning; we will 

111 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

then discharge all our obligations. Harry 
Dodge hears the words of his faithful clerk.) 

Dodge {in resolute tones). Yes, yes, it must 
be done ; something must be done to carry on our 
business for an hour more. It is now two o'clock 
and our fight will be waged most furiously from 
now till three ; one hour left, and I must save the 
day or all is lost — yes, all is lost. 

{He disappears quickly into the private of- 
fice. Many men are now coming in noisily 
and hurriedly for collections and settle- 
ments. The clerks are busily paying off 
pressing claim s^ and putting off those that 
are not so pressing till the neoct day. As 
the time goes on, more and more messen- 
gers arrive, till the office is almost be- 
sieged with young and middle-aged men 
collecting and making settlements for 
brokers. Harry Dodge emerges again, 
in company with Uncle Billy Mar- 
shall and Mr. Janeayay. 
Dodge. Yes, I will go to the New American 
and to the First ISTational Banks, and make an 
offer to pledge our whole interest and my secret 
for the manufacture of our match for a loan of 
seventy thousand dollars, at twenty per cent, for 
three months. It is a desperate chance, but we 
must save our honor, ourselves and business fu- 
ture. Even our bread and butter depend on this 
last chance. The secret I have held next to my 

112 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

life-blood, and when this is gone, the chances are 
our proprietary, product will be gone forever. 
But do you not think this best. Uncle Billy? 
Do you not think so, Mr. Janeway? 

Mr. Janeway. My boy, you are noble, and 
you are making a noble fight. We have done 
all in our power. You hold the last straw on 
which the whole network of our lives and exist- 
ence now seems to depend. You hold it, and if 
you think proper of giving your secret away un- 
der the circumstances, with the hope of holding 
the ship together, then go, and may God be with 
you in your honorable undertaking; and we will 
await your return before closing our doors finally 
and placing things in the hands of a receiver. 

Uncle Billy Marshall. Seventy thousand 
dollars will hold us up on margin to a selling 
point of twenty-seven and a half for our stock, 
but if anything else occurs to frustrate or reduce 
us further, then even the seventy thousand dol- 
lars will be of very little avail to us. 

Dodge (more hopeful). They can do no 
more ; they have said and done all that they can. 
It is too late for a decision from any court to- 
day, and they are now at the end of their lying 
and treacherous means in this dastardly game of 
ruin. The people will believe no more of their 
lies, mark you, after the close to-night, and if we 
can save ourselves up to the closing hour, then 
we will be able to recuperate, I am sure, for to- 

113 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

morrow will be Saturday, business will become 
inactive, and by Monday people will believe them 
no longer. They have had their run and the re- 
action is due. 

Uncle Billy Marshall. All right, my boy, 
I hope you are right in your prognostications. 
At any rate, try it, try it; you at least have one 
chance left, and of course you must never give up 
a chance when in this predicament, if that chance 
be honorable, notwithstanding the fact that you 
are dealing and fighting against modern thieves. 

{The next moment Dodge leaves the office. 
Uncle Billy Marshall and Mr. Jane- 
way return to their private offices. Now 
the excitement commences to be greater 
and greater; more people arrive for set- 
tlements. Many are running about whis- 
pering to each other significantly. The 
clerks at the counter have all they can do 
to keep the noisy crowd from clamoring 
for settlements as they move about the of- 
fice excitedly. The clerks work slowly 
and take as much time as possible to make 
partial settlements, so as to extend the 
time given each customer as long as pos- 
sible, till three o'clock should arrive. The 
ticker is now working frantically while the 
market breaks again. Some young fel- 
low reads out loud:) 
114 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

National Match thirty-five; National Match, 
10,000 shares sold at thirty-three. 

{The crowd become more eoocited than ever 
and make desperate efforts to have full 
settlements made. The scene becomes 
more and more terrible, and more noise 
and excitement is indulged in. Harry 
Brown comes to the counter and directs 
the clerks to hold out as long as possible, 
or until Dodge returns with some money. 
He speaks to the crowd and asks them to 
at least be gentlemen and fall into line and 
to be orderly, adding that their claims 
would be settled as soon as possible. Some 
of the men go out of the office to bring 
their employers to help them gain recogni- 
tion. The clock's hands point to two- 
thirty. Soon the office is filled with a 
howling mass of men clamoring towards 
the counters, demanding settlements. Just 
at this time several policemen come into 
the office and clear a way for a number of 
other men who have bags of gold upon 
their shoulders. As the precious metal 
rings out upon the hai'd wood counters, 
a mighty yell and cheer goes forth from 
the surging masses of men now in the of- 
fice. Bag after bag is opened, and pay- 
ments of all accounts are now commenced 
in earnest, and the excitement subsides. 

115 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

At t'cvo-forty Dodge comes in, panting 
terribly from excitement. He is met at 
the door and congratulated and embraced 
by his elder associates and Harry Brown. 
He stops for nothing, but takes a window 
at the counter and commences to pay out 
the money gained by his efforts, as fast 
and as indifferently as though it were 
water, or there was plenty of money to be 
had. Just now some one at the ticker 
cries out: Look, look! And many eyes 
rest on the tape. Some one yells in ex- 
citement:) 
A decision! A decision arrived at in Judge 
Marks^s court. 

(DoDGE^ ashen in color, seems to doubt him- 
self. He falters as a man at the tape 
reads out aloud:) 
Judge Marks issues a restraining order with 
pending injunction against the National Match 
Company, based upon the fact that the products 
of the contending parties are so nearly alike, es- 
pecially since the major portion of matches are 
made of wood, and is the same material, all ex- 
cept the head, and since the Allied Companies 
hold a secret for the manufacture of matches, to 
be lighted by the same means as those manufac- 
tui^ed by the defending company, he therefore is- 
sues an order of restraint upon the defendants, 
the National Match Company, and orders that 

116 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

they show cause why they should not be perma- 
nently restrained in the manufacture of the al- 
leged secret match of later date than that held 
by the complainants, for he finds the Allied Com- 
panies held their secret long before the National 
Match Company came into existence, and that 
the secret is many hundreds, if not thousands, of 
years old, and is an Egyptian creation. 

Harry Dodge {now in terror^ cries out). A 
lie, a lie; another lie they resort to. The scoun- 
drels have even debauched the judiciary in their 
dastardly efforts to ruin me. 

(He staggers to the tape to read for himself, 
while Mr. Janeway and Uncle Billy 
Marshall and Brown are standing by. 
He sees the facts with his misty eyes. The 
next thing he reads is blocks of National 
Match dropping five and ten points at a 
time, and the whole market in a whirl- 
wind of wild rage, and tumbling at the 
rate of ten and twenty points on each sale. 
As the tape is run off a fresh avalanche of 
people are at the door, wild with excite- 
ment, clamoring and entering in a fren- 
zied state, and making demands in great 
excitement. There is turmoil with this 
howling mass of men, who seem more like 
demons than mortals at this instant. And 
in the wildest of the wild excitement 

117 



[ ACT III ] The Trend 

Dodge starts to leave the indicator. It is 
too much for him; he totters^ speechless. 
The neoot moment he throws his hands up 
into the air and falls heavily upon the 
floor. In an instant many men are about 
him, tenderly raising his head, "He 
breathes yet" says one, "Send for a doc- 
tor" cries another. "Bring water" comes 
from another,) 

{The curtain falls for a moment. Dodge 
is removed. Then the excitement com- 
mences again with fresh demands by the 
yelling masses. Brown mounts a chair 
in the office; he takes off his hat; the noise 
subsides for a moment, ) 

Brown (sadly). Gentlemen, gentlemen, I 
am pained beyond expression to say a death has 
occurred just now, within our doors. Our col- 
laborator and special partner of this firm, Mr. 
Harry Dodge^ has just expired. 

(31 any hats are taken off; a number of men 
leave the office quietly, while a number of 
others cry out. Shame, shame! Soon all 
hats are doffed; the crowd awaits further 
information, ) 

Brown (continuing) , Owing to the distress- 
ing condition of the market and the death of our 
special partner, and our reserve being over- 
thrown, which we hope will be temporary only, 

118 



The Trend [ act hi ] 

we shall have to assign, and further payments 
will have to be discontinued at once. We there- 
fore request you to leave the office quietly, with- 
out further excitement, in respect to the sudden 
death of Mr. Dodge. 

( The men commence to leave the office quiet- 
ly, with uncovered heads.) 



119 



ACT IV. 



I 



I 



ACT IV. 

SCENE I. 

(Surroundings same as first act; time, four 
years later, and about nine months later 
than the third act. It is the day before 
Thanksgiving. Scene, a large, commo- 
dious but moderately furnished parlor in 
Mr. Janeway^s Long Island home,) 

(Katherine Janeway is looking some- 
what older and sadder and more serious 
than ever before, and aged considerably 
since act second. She is attired in a neat- 
ly fitting suit of black and white. She is 
not so vivacious, but is still a loving and 
tender attendant and housekeeper for her 
devoted but depleted old father,) 

(It is just after breakfast, or about ten 
o'clock in the morning. Mr. Janeway 
is seated near the hearth reading the 
morning papers, while Katherine is pre- 
paring some warm article of wearing ap- 
parel for him, to be used in cold weather. 
Mr. Janeway reads from the papers that 
Jack Raleigh^s companies are in a flour- 
ishing condition; that their earnings will 
123 



[ ACT IV ] The Trend 

be enormous at the end of the year^ and 
while he makes no hitter comment, his 
voice shows that he longs for some relief 
from his embarrassed financial condition, 
as he says J with sorrow in his voice:) 

Well, the companies seem to flourish, and all 
those who could put up with their abusive atti- 
tude and despotic dictation, submitting to all 
that is required of them, with a submission more 
fit for a dog than a man, will have recourse to a 
full purse this year for Christmas shopping for 
their families, while I, who could not submit to 
such plutocratic action on the part of the few in 
control without resentment, will have to go with- 
out money to buy my poor child a Christmas 
gift, and to give her sufficient means to help her 
make some unfortunate ones in the world happy, 
as she has so lovingly done in former years. 

Katherine. Ah, father, do not talk thus; 
you have done and now do for me more than any 
child could expect; you have humored my every 
request; you have done for me more than any 
child could expect from a loving and devoted 
father. {She goes to him, places herself at his 
feet J and says:) 

Oh, if I could only do something to relieve this 
great strain of misfortime from the head of my 
poor father. This is my whole thought now, 
and is foremost in my mind at all times, and to- 

124 



The Trend [ act xv ] 

day especially. This is what I must think of 
to-day. 

(All is said with such earnestness it makes 
an impression upon the old gentleman, 
who answers:) 
My dear, what do you mean, and why so es- 
pecially to-day? 

Katherine. This of all days will, I am sure, 
be the most trying of all my life. It is all too 
much, too much for me, and I have sent for oiu* 
good curate to come and consult with me. 

(Mr. Janeway assumes the attitude of 
reading what Katherine means, and says 
out boldly J without reserve:) 
Katherine, Katherine, my dear (as he 
strokes her head ) , do you love Jack Raleigh ? 
Katherine {much terrified and trembling at 
this juncture ) . Father, I cannot tell you at this 
time; somehow I have always been drawn to- 
wards him. He seems to have had such a strug- 
gle in the world, even though he is very rich. 
Everybody seems to think so horribly of him; 
and why, can you tell me? 

Mr. Janeway {looks far off and serious for a 
time) . All people, of course, with great respon- 
sibilities and who have to wield their actions both 
diplomatically and radically in order to hold an 
exalted position, as does Jack Raleigh, will al- 
ways have enemies, if not from real, from imag- 
inary or fancied causes, emanating from jeal- 

125 



[ ACT IV ] The Trend 

ousy. Raleigh himself has always been respect- 
ful to me, and I am sure would be friendly, 
should I make known to him that I desired aid 
from him in any one way. He was blamed by 
our poor boy Harry for his downfall, but who 
can prove this, or even assert it with any degree 
of certainty? And of course, a man in an envied 
position such as Raleigh occupies, will always be 
held responsible for all sorts of conditions that do 
not coincide with public opinion, whether he is 
innocent or otherwise. I dare say he gets credit 
and is held responsible for many things person- 
ally that, in reality, is not done by him at all. 
To-day in commerce it is like war, and strife is 
rampant on all sides when fighting competition 
for supremacy, and a commercial general is no 
more personally responsible for his tactics and 
blows given his enemies than the general on the 
field who fights for a cause, and not for his per- 
sonal benefit, nor from his own dictation or feel- 
ing. It is the condition of present day society 
that requires it, and the commercial general of 
to-day is one person at heart and another in ac- 
tion, as they are expected to carry out the orders 
and directions of other heads. Raleigh com- 
mands an army and is responsible to a multitude 
of people who owns the interests he represents, 
and, therefore, no matter how his heart and head 
appeal to him for action, he is delivered up to his 
people, to carry on the warfare to victory, and to 

126 



The Trend [ act iv ] 

save and advance their interests at all hazards. 
I do not to-day hold men at the head of these 
great institutions personally responsible for their 
actions, as I did some years ago, but I hold the 
community at large responsible for allowing such 
conditions to exist. It is an epoch and will be 
changed in its own good time, and when people 
are educated and enlightened as to their mistakes. 
It all is as fair under the conditions for one man 
as another; therefore, the commercial captains of 
to-day are as the war captains of old, and they 
are men at heart, but generals of the head and di- 
rection. 

(Pause. Katherine seems deeply inter- 
ested in all her father says. ) 

Katherine. Father, what is the real cause 
of all this strife and trouble in the world, and how 
could it be changed? Could one human being 
do much toward making a change? 

Mr. Janeway. Ah, my dear, I am afraid 
one human being could do but little towards mak- 
ing a change, for society itself is wrong, and our 
men need changing from imitations of men to 
real men, men of head and soul and body, who 
can and will act individually; not men in form 
only, who can only imitate and do things because 
others do them. Ah, this is what we need, and 
when it is done, or when men are real men, then 
we can boast of our civilization in reality, and 
we need not say what advancement we would 

127 



[ ACT IV ] The Trend 

have, and what a saving in economics would be 
at hand. The great trouble in the world is that 
we all do things from precedent, especially if 
this precedent tends to advance our own indi- 
vidual interests, or we may gain worldly things 
thereby, we will follow it even if, in the follow- 
ing, we have to resort to means of dishonesty. 
We need individuality and men, and not cowards, 
as are our leaders to-day. Society needs changing 
from the root ; our men need changing from their 
foimdation to their heads; they need remaking, 
so as to change them from apes to men, and real 
men; yes, to real men with strength and courage 
to be honest and fair in their dealings with others. 
This is what we need, my dear, this is what we 
need, and I dare say Jackson Raleigh is no 
worse than the rest. He is not so much respon- 
sible as is society itself, for he is too frail and 
weak to stand alone, and is compelled to follow 
other people's example, precedents and actions to 
cope with them for the purpose of having success, 
as success is looked upon and known to-day. 
Men need mental development on a higher plane 
to meet the present conditions; civilization and 
advancement require better development in men 
of the mind and heart than we have. We do not 
need cowards and imitators, but brave men and 
with an individuality. Such men as could look 
starvation and destitution in the face and laugh 
at it when it becomes a matter of choosing be- 

128 



The Trend [ act iv ] 

tween questionable deeds and honesty and up- 
rightness in our affairs and business. Yes, 
my dear, our men are as you have said, only 
yet as infants, and they surely need devel- 
opment. We need men strong enough to 
give up the petty pursuits of deception and 
selfishness for the greater and nobler accomplish- 
ments of generosity and honesty. Anything of 
the animal kingdom or of humankind is strong 
enough to be deceptive, but it requires a man of 
courage and strength to be honest, especially 
when he is only responsible to his own conscience, 
and such strength and nobleness of character can 
only be derived from mental development; and 
this alone can lead us to and along the road of the 
highest attainment in a just, free and powerful 
civilization. And now, my dear, I can only add, 
we need men who can stand alone and give up 
the subterfuge, the hypocrisy and the deceit of 
this day for real honor, and can rise to that con- 
dition where simple truth and simple honesty 
will prevail for the sake of simple manhood. 
This, my dear, will make the change, and this 
only can produce any real change in our mode of 
spending one-half our lives in perpetrating de- 
ceptions and the other half in trying to remedy 
the condition. 

( There is a ring of the door hell. Kather- 
INE starts, Nina announces Curate 
Rollins; he is ushered into the room. He 
129 



[ ACT IV ] The Trend 

is as of yore, loving in nature and espe- 
cially attentive to Katherine^ and is 
heartily received by Mr. Janeway. 
Greetings are exchanged, then Mr. Jane- 
way thinks of something he has to do in 
the library, and leaves the parlor. Kath- 
ERiNE and the Curate are alone; Kather- 
INE becomes nervous and restless and even 
shy, not knowing how to carry out her de- 
termination. Finally says:) 

Curate Rollins^ I have a story to tell you; I 
would appreciate your opinion of it. It reminds 
me of some I have read. Probably as I go on 
you will recognize some of the characters. You 
are my only friend; you, who are always so kind; 
it seems to me you have taken the place of mother 
with me in directing me in all things whenever I 
am puzzled and do not know how to act, and I 
have always been so happy and glad afterwards 
that I have taken your advice. 

Curate Rollins. Ah, do not speak thus. 
Miss Katherine^ but do proceed, and if I can in 
any way be of service, you know it is my duty as 
an officer of the church of God, as well as the in- 
terest I have always taken in you and your affairs^ 
to advise as best I could; and this confidence, I 
hope, will never be marred, but increased as time 
goes on. 

Katherine- How good you are, how goodt 

130 



The Trend [ act iv ] 

{In a dreamy manner j as she now seems to look 
and think of far distant things, ) 

{The minister gets up from his seat and 
paces the floor ^ while Katherine says:) 
Once by accident a young girl met a fascinat- 
ing and wealthy man. There was an unmistak- 
able attachment at once. Circumstances caused 
them to be separated for a time, and later they 
again met under different conditions. The man 
had had much trouble, even to the losing of his 
fiancee. The girl had become somewhat swayed 
in her first impressions of the man by the coming 
into her home of another who was both kind and 
honest, but who had never appealed to her very 
much, for some unknown reason, after the second 
meeting of the first man. The girl was amid a 
whirl of life and excitement, being thrown among 
a great concourse of many and restless people of 
wealth, in a way which almost turned her head 
from anything that was plain or simple. She de- 
sired position, wealth and a man who was able 
to hold sway in any company. While the second 
man was of an honest nature, he lacked tact, and 
was narrow in many ways, while the first was just 
the reverse; he was both tactful and brilliant in 
any company or position. The first man is now 
accused of a great wrong, as many of his class 
are at times, who are in a great position, and 
commanding influence of this day; indeed, some 
say he is the cause, through persecution, of the 

131 



[ ACT IV ] The Trend 

death of the second man, not directly or by his 
own hand, but, as I say, by persecution in other 
ways. But this cannot be proven and cannot be 
said with any degree of certainty, any more than 
any other thing can be said that is not proved. 
The girl has lost her ambition to become a society 
belle ; she has tired of it, and it does not appeal to 
her, nor to her life or character. It seems an 
empty existence to her. As I said, the second 
man is now dead; the first is more persistent in 
his entreaties to win the girl's heart and hand 
than ever before. He acknowledges that he is 
no model of earthly perfection, but is a man of 
the world; he realizes that he has done things 
which have caused him to repent ; in fact, he says 
there is only one thing left in the world for him, 
and that is the girl in this story. She and she 
only can redeem him, and keep his life, which has 
become cold and bare and without interest, from 
fatality. She holds his destiny in her hands, and 
if she refuses him he is lost, and if she accepts him, 
he is redeemed and a new life will be awakened 
unto him, and she will be the director of his des- 
tiny, and will teach what is good and right to 
him. In a word, he claims the girl will be his 
holy director, and make him see good in all 
things instead of the reverse ; and now in conclu- 
sion, the girl has nothing to appeal to him in the 
way of wealth. He is rich and the girl is poor 
in worldly things, and now as she bows her head 

132 



The Trend [ act iv ] 

she asks you, in humble spirit, what should a girl 
do in such a case? 

(Curate Rollins has already stopped by 

the side of Katherine in his earnestness 

to hear every word from her own lips, and 

finally, in quiet and decided tones, says:) 

Does the girl love this man? 

(Katherine takes a long breath, as if al- 
most penetrated to the heart with these 
searching words. She recoils and then 
says:) 
As I have said, there seems some affinity which 
appeals to her. 

(The minister, in resolute tones, then says:) 
If only an affinity, then wait till love itself 
comes. Wait, wait until then, and never before 
give your consent and life to a man of question- 
able character, and who only holds a suggestion 
of love as an affinity appeals to one. 

(There is a long, strained silence after this. 
Curate Rollins speaks first, and in a 
way that is more than the earnest appeal 
of a curate, but more of a man who holds 
strong regard for the person to whom he 
speaks; says:) 
Katherine, Katherine, I know your story; 
I know your characters. I have waited and wait- 
ed for you to speak thus. Yes, and more than 
this — I have prayed for you from the first day of 
your meeting with him four years ago — your 

133 



[ ACT IV ] The Trend 

meeting with Jackson Raleigh — I prayed for 
you, and your delivery and guidance from all 
that was thrown in your path in the great metrop- 
olis; prayed that you would be delivered whole 
and clean of heart, of soul, of body. God has 
been good to you and to me ; you have been saved 
up to this time; you have unfolded yourself to 
me, and now I can only repeat, as I know your 
heart and head, that you should, under the cir- 
cumstances, wait; wait for further developments 
and for the unfolding of your entire soul, which 
must direct your love to the man of whom you 
speak, before giving your decided and unreserved 
answer to become his wife and partner for life. 
{Just now there is a ring at the hell, Kath- 
ERiNE starts and says:) 
It is he, it is he, for his answer. Oh, my ; I feel 
so nervous; do not leave me {she pleads) ; do not 
leave me. 

(Rollins enters the adjoining room and 
awaits the arrival of Raleigh^ who soon 
enters the parlor and looks at Katherine^ 
who seems very much agitated. He is 
surprised as she receives him somewhat 
coldly and he says:) 
Katherine^ Katherine^ are you ill? {Goes 
to her side), Katherine^ this, I hope, will 
prove to be the happiest day of my existence. 
{Now attempts to take her hand; she tenderly 
but decidedly withdraws it, Raleigh looks per- 
ish 



The Trend [ act iv ] 

plexed and uncertain. They both stand aloof 
for a while ^ until Raleigh says:) 

Katherine^ KatherinEj you know the cause 
of my visit on this morning ; the suspense is ago- 
nizing ; speak, speak — can you not relieve the ten- 
sion in which I am placed? 

{She demurs, seems frightened, does not say 

a word; she is undecided and irresolute in 

pose, Raleigh goes to her side, takes her 

hand by force, saying:) 

Allow me to relieve you of the embarrassing 

position. {Then loudly and earnestly :) Allow 

me to answer for you; may I not take all for 

granted? 

Katherine {cries out). Oh, Jack, Jack, do 
not — do not press me thus. If you only knew 
all and the truth. Oh, if I could only do as you 
ask, I would, I would ; but my heart does not dic- 
tate it to me. Why do you persist in this man- 
ner? I would do all and everything for j'-ou I 
could; I have regard for and sympathize with 
you ; but. Jack, my heart is not ready to give you 
the answer you desire. 

Raleigh. But, my dear, the suspense is in- 
tolerable — more than I can bear longer. If you 
only knew the value I place upon your words to- 
day, my dear, you would not question me further 
in regard to my purpose. Oh, Katherine^ do 
not wait longer; tell me — tell me at once. 

135 



[ ACT IV ] The Trend 

{Now without waiting further Raleigh at- 
tempts to fervently embrace her. She 
again withdraws and says:) 
Jack, you must not assume such a liberty. 
( They now separate for a few feet of space. ) 

Raleigh. Katherine, what can be the cause 
of all this? Are you ill, or do you yet insist upon 
torturing me longer with a weary existence that 
turns days into years and makes my life a hell on 
earth to me? 

{After a moment or two's reflection both 
Raleigh and Katherine seem to become 
calmer. Raleigh is the first to speak, 
and with calmness and spirit, yet earnest, 
says:) 
You know the purpose of my visit to you on 
this morning, this morning of all the days before 
I have cherished to think of as would be the hap- 
piest of my life, and you know the killing sus- 
pense under which I exist, and would continue 
without that which I seek, your heart and hand. 
I have told you all; you know I love you as no 
other mortal could love another. I am ready to 
place myself at your feet; think, Katherine, 
deeply and soundly of what I say. Katherine, 
think of the responsibility that is upon your soul 
on this day. My very reason, my life, my soul 
and body depend upon the few words you tell 
me on this day. I need you; I need your honor, 
your innocence, your blossom of youth, your 

136 



The Trend [ a€t iy ] 

kindly spirit, your warmth of heart, all of which 
is known to me in that one little phrase — love — 
love, yes, love, infused into my body and my soul 
that is so cold and desolate, and is yearning for 
that one and only person in this world to warm 
it into manhood again. (Short pause,) My 
experience in the world as it stands has made me 
a demon among men, I fear, and I need you, 
Katherine^ I need you, I am sure, to lead me 
back and show me again that path of life as is 
like innocent childhood; yes, to return me to 
honor and innocence, and to help me to forget 
and to forgive and to seek repentance and for- 
giveness from all whom I have wronged, as I fear 
I have done in my duty as I have seen it, for the 
good of others as well as for my own selfish de- 
sires and as the world has taught me to do from 
its coldness and the experience I have had with 
others. You, Katherine^ and you only, can do 
this for me, can return me to that which I have 
gone away from in my glittering and garnished 
pursuits in this life. 

(Raleigh now stops and waits for further 
words to come to him. Finally he says:) 
Katherine^ think of this deeply; think of it 
deeply and thoroughly before you give me your 
answer to-day, but whatever you say, let it be 
final, either one way or the other. This suspense 
is more than I can bear longer; I am a poor, 
starving soul, longing for the warmth of an in- 

137 



[ ACT ly ] The Trend 

nocent and pure soul in my life. Think, Kath- 
erine; you have a grave responsibility to-day; 
you have a heavenly and godly duty to perform. 
I come to you to-day to save a soul from purga- 
tory, and to help weave it into condition for God's 
final resting place in Heaven. This will be my 
last appeal to you; the answer must be final to- 
day. I have waited now more than a year, and 
to me this has been more than a lifetime. Kath- 
ERiNE^ think again and again, and weigh this 
grave responsibility in your tender way with ac- 
curacy and with the regard I have learned to 
think you hold for me. Weigh all carefully, for 
this will either save a tormented life and change 
its spirit into one of goodness and real life, or 
send it at once to where I cannot tell. I am a 
wealthy man, as you know; see what good you 
could do as well as saving one poor soul. There 
will be enough at your conmiand to make others 
happy in this world, and this would help me to 
atone for any evils which might be laid at my 
door. Katherine^ I can say no more, dear ; will 
you be mine and mine forever? 

( Katherine Janeway is trembling violent- 
ly. She turns to speak; the tears seem to 
drown her voice. She offers her hand. 
Raleigh takes it fervently, hut respect- 
fully, as she says:) 
Jack, I can't; I can't tell you to-day. You 
must wait — you must wait. 

138 



The Trend [ act iv ] 

(Raleigh turns very pale and pleads des- 
perately for a final answer by saying:) 
I cannot wait longer ; it is due to both of us, to 
you, KatherinEj as well as myself, to have a 
final answer at once. 

{Intense silence again, Katherine now 
becomes calmer under the great responsi- 
bility, and says:) 
Do not press me further. Could you expect 
me to give you my heart, which is not yet ready? 
I have always held a strong regard for you; I 
have always thought you have been unjustly 
treated by others. I have sympathized and felt 
more than this. My regard and sympathy have 
almost won my frail heart to you, but j^et there 
is a lacking in fullness that prevents my feeling 
safe in saying to you what you wish, and makes 
me say that I can't accept you as my love and 
partner for life; and now since this is the case, 
you, at least, expect me to be honorable. I can 
only say as I have said before, you must wait — 
wait till that fullness is come. 

Raleigh. Katherine^ the sweetest of all 
good souls I have met in this world, this is a 
heavy blow, a heavier one than you can imagine, 
believe me. 

(Raleigh looks as if his very heart strings 
were rent asunder,) 
Raleigh. I cannot expect more, for it is my 
lot to take the consequences and take them as I 

139 



[ ACT IV ] The Trend 

can. (Silence a moment or two,) Katherine^ 
I must leave you now, but remember me always 
as one who would have done and lived and died 
as a whole soul for your good and your good 
only. Remember me after this parting as a soul 
who would have been consecrated to you, the one 
in this world who could have changed my exist- 
ence at your bidding, and now the time is at hand 
for me to say farewell. 

( Theii without waiting for another word, as 
if bewildered, he starts for the door, 
Katherine is now nonplussed or dazed, 
Raleigh returns into the room again and 
says:) 
Farewell, Katherine^ dear, farewell. [Seem- 
ingly in a dazed condition, takes her hand in his 
and kisses it twice and says:) Remember me 
for the good intentions I held for you. Will you 
allow me to kiss your hand again, Katherine? 
{She does not answer,) 

(Raleigh now turns and reaches for her 
hand. She withdraws it. The next mo- 
ment Raleigh^ seemingly half crazed, 
reaches the door, Katherine stands in 
silence a moment, then screams. Curate 
Rollins enters,) 
Rollins. Katherine^ Katherine — 
Katherine. Oh, I feel so alarmed! Oh, I 
feel so agitated and lonely! 

(Curate Rollins takes her hand.^ 

140 



The Trend [ act iv ] 

Rollins. You must calm yourself. You 
must calm yourself, and trust that all will be 
right in the end. 

Katherine {half dazed). Thank you so 
much for all you have done. I feel now that 
you have advised me aright again. Oh, let us 
hope so — let us hope so. What would I have 
done without your advice and help, and the 
strength your words seemed to give me in this 
ordeal. 

Rollins. Katherine^ Katherine, let it be 
so. Let it be so for the present, and as time 
goes on let us grow to understand each other 
more and more. Let our interests become more 
and more alike; let our lives become more and 
more conformed. Let our motives in life become 
more and more cemented; in a word, let us grow 
nearer and nearer to each other. (Silence,) 
Katherine^ Katherine^ one year hence, or 
when all this is forgotten or when you feel there 
is no other one you can give that place in your 
life I seek, let us become more and more as one 
concrete, inseparable form of God's great family 
upon this earth, and until he calls us forth to the 
life everlasting. Let us become more and more 
as one. 

(Katherine sways from exhaustion. Rol- 
lins gently places his arm about her for 
support, Katherine looks toward the 
ground. ) 

141 



[ ACT IV ] The Trend 

Katheeine. How could I answer now? How 
could I do as you wish at this time? 

Rollins. No, no — not now, but when you are 
free, and when this trouble is at an end, and when 
all this is passed. If you can forget, or when 
there is no other one you should rather favor than 
me, and when we grow nearer and nearer to each 
other through God's grace, then you will answer, 
will you not? (Silence,) 

Katherine (softly). Yes, yes — at that time 
I will answer. (Just now a pistol shot is heard j 
and another report follows the first immediately. 
Katherine shrieks and falls into the arms of 
Curate Rollins; the next instant Mr. Jane- 
way rushes into the room and cries:) 

Heavens, heavens! Jackson Raleigh has 
returned, and taken his own life in the front of 
my home. 

(Katherine swoons. Curate Rollins 
raises his hand heavenward and earnestly 
says:) 

God's will be done! 

(the END.) 



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